Sydney Magic PCYC 1 Campbelltown Quake 1 (Magic win 2-1 on penalties )

Magic keeper Peter Spathis proved yet again his credentials as Australia’s premier futsal goalkeeper by saving four out of five penalties to help the Magic overcome the Quake to win the Mens Premier League Futsal crown. Full praise should also go to Oliver Lawton of the Quake who saved two penalties yet ended up on the losing side.

The Magic prevailed in a tense and combative game of attrition that was dominated by totally committed defence, indeed the first goal was not scored until the 44th minute of the game.

The match began with Quake settling into their passing and movement rhythm early with the Magic intent on holding them and looking to work their way into the game.

Both sides were having their chances but the Quake so nearly took the lead when Miles Downie made a run forward received a quick pass from Heber Carvalho but skewed his effort high and wide from barely a metre out.

As the half wore on the Magic were getting a better share of possession and goal attempts and nearly took the lead when a pass across goal from Marino Musumeci just evaded the outstretched leg of Andres Gomez sliding in at the far post.

The Quake came close just before half time when Downie sped down the flank crossed for Tuan Cao who uncharacteristically volleyed wide from close range.

The story was the same after half time with Quake settling quickly into a rhythm with majority possession and Magic working their way into the game creating a very even contest on the balance of play and chances.

The pace was fast and combative but both sets of teams were very committed in defence and reluctant to throw too many players forward so the game remained deadlocked.

That was until the 44th minute when the Quake took the lead through Danny Martinez. Miles Downie ran the ball through the middle of the court passed to Tuan Cao on the left who drew the keeper slid the ball across goal to Martinez looming in support to calmly drill the ball home.

The Magic were frantic in their efforts to equalise and nearly did when Andres Gomez took a snapshot from the byline which the keeper parried down but the ball trickled agonisingly along the line and cleared away to safety.

With the Magic pouring forward in search of an equaliser and less than three minutes left on the clock Marino Musumeci slipped his defensive markers, received a pass near goal and stabbed the ball wide of the keeper to level the game at 1-1.

The game went into overtime with nothing separating the two teams. But again the deadlock could not be broken with a draw being a fair result on the balance of play and chances.

Somehow the Quake had precariously survived on five fouls for almost fifteen minutes but they kept their heads throughout and the contest was to be settled on penalties.

In a game where both sides had suffered in confidence in front of goal as the game wore on the goalkeepers became the heroes and in particular Peter Spathis who proved his class yet again to win it for the Magic. [Full Footage of the Penalty Shootout is available here or here - courtesy of Sydney Magic].

After recently taking out the Club championship Sydney Magic now add the coveted Mens Premier League title to their collection.

Match Details

Sydney Magic PCYC

1. Peter Spathis, 12. Tudor Vasile, 2. Bill Dimitropoulos, 17. Alberto Crocco, 4. Andres Gomez, 5. Dylan Maloney, 6. Andrew Paine, 8. Marino Musumeci, 9. Andrew Nolan

Goals: Marino Musumeci

Campbelltown City Quake

12. Jon Azzopardi, 1. Oliver Lawton, 7. Tuan Cao, 5. Simon Keith, 9. Gary Seymour, 10. Miles Downie, 8 Sahand Jahani, 20. Danny Martinez, 6. Heber Carvalho, 3. Daniel Fulton, 4. Mark Symington, 2. David Von Dinklage

Goals: Danny Martinez

Yellow Cards: Miles Downie

Referees: Scott Kidson, Andrew Best, Roger Lee

Source : Football NSW
Published : 23/2/2009