The finale to the 2011/12 Futsal Super League season did not disappoint with some entertaining Futsal action played at the Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday

Under 12 Boys Grand Final Maccabi Hakoah d. Phoenix Futsal Club 4-3 (penalties, 2-2 normal time, 3-3 extra time)

Maccabi Hakoah Futsal Club kick started the 2012 Futsal Super League Grand Final day with a bang, securing a dramatic penalty shoot out victory over Phoenix Futsal Club. After finishing the season in third place, Maccabi took the long route to the final, downing Futsal Club Barcelona in the minor semi final and Mountain Majik in the preliminary final to reach the penultimate game.

Maccabi started the game strongly, striking the crossbar with a fiery shot before their efforts were rewarded with a goal not long after. A routine back post play allowed Maccabi to gain the early ascendancy, but the newly promoted Phoenix hit back just minutes later after the Maccabi goalkeeper parried away a shot into the path of an awaiting Phoenix player.

With scores locked at 1-1, both sides looked intent on attacking, giving the goalkeepers plenty of work to do. Maccabi made the most of their pressure and their one-goal lead was restored when Tal Weiner dispossessed a Phoenix player and rounded the ‘keeper for a tap in.

As the clock wound down, the game’s intensity lifted and Phoenix sent the game into extra time with a delicate chip into the top corner to level things at 2-2.

The first half of extra time provided few highlights but it didn’t take too long for Phoenix to snatch the lead in the second period thanks to a powerful low drive.

Their celebrations were short lived though as Maccabi equalised just 30 seconds later, forcing the match into a dreaded penalty shoot out.

It took ten spot kicks to decide a winner and the Maccabi number one was in fine form, saving two penalties to give them the victory.

Goals:

Maccabi- Josiah Gwozdecky, Ran Marcovich, Tal Weiner

Phoenix- Blake Foss, Cristian Berrios, Kevin Robertson

Under 12 Girls Grand Final Greater Western Sydney Vikings d. Northern Tigers 4-0

Greater Western Sydney Vikings climbed to a resounding 4-0 victory in the Under 12 Girls Grand Final. Northern Tigers went through the regular season without dropping a point and their fast-paced, physical game was clear from the outset.

The ball moved quickly around the court with both sides giving the goalposts a work out. But as the first half clock wound down, Vikings proved more energetic and Cassidy Childgey made a darting run down the right hand side, burying her shot low across the goal to give Vikings a one goal advantage.

Just as Northern Tigers prepared to head to the sidelines for half time, Childgey smacked a powerful shot into the goal for her second of the match.

The two-goal half time deficit seemed to spur the Tigers into action and they were unlucky not to have a goal for their efforts. Vikings extended their lead against the run of play when a high cross was met at the back post by Olivia Robinson who controlled the ball on her knee and headed the ball over the Tigers ‘keeper.

Greater Western Sydney controlled the remainder of the match and, in fitting circumstances, Cassidy Childgey sealed her hat trick and helped Vikings to be crowned Super League champions.

Goals:

Vikings-Cassidy Childgey (3), Olivia Robinson

Under 14 Boys Grand Final Mountain Majik d. West City Crusaders 5-2

In an all-western Sydney affair, Mountain Majik eclipsed their local rivals to back up their premiership victory. The mountain men scored the most goals in the regular season and they came out firing early, letting the ball do all the work. The first shot with venom also produced the goal opener for Majik when the Crusaders goalkeeper parried away a powerful shot but stood no chance against the rebound strike.

Majik grabbed a second goal in quick succession when Bradie Smith went on a solo run and tucked the ball in the bottom corner. West City then tightened up their defence and a majority of the play was nestled in the middle of the court. The Crusaders’ resilience was broken again in the 12th minute as Bradie Smith netted his second of the match.

Majik continued to attack in the first half and with the clock running down, they earned a four-goal lead through Aaron Avery.

The half time break did the Crusaders a big favour as they lifted the tempo immediately. It took just 30 seconds from the restart for West City to pull a goal back when Jack Kuipers netted from close range. But when the Crusaders ‘keeper was sent off for handling the ball outside the ‘D’, Majik buried the match from the resulting free kick.

A late goal and flurry of pressure from Crusaders provided some exciting closing moments but Majik were too strong in the end, taking the title 5-2.

Goals:

Majik- Emmanuel Gonzalez, Jay Holdsworth, Bradie Smith (2), Aaron Avery

Crusaders- Bradley Wright, Jack Kuipers

Under 14 Girls Phoenix d. Greater Western Sydney Vikings 2-0

Phoenix were always favourites to win this match after taking maximum points from the regular season, although it was the fourth-placed Greater Western Sydney who attacked with more intent. On a break away play, the Vikings went one-on-one with the Phoenix goalkeeper who sent the ball out for a corner. Vikings looked to have scored the opener but the ball went narrowly over the bar.

That brought the game to life with both goalkeeper’s put to the test and proving equal to the task. Momentum shifted midway through the first half and the Phoenix began moving the ball around, creating a number of goal scoring opportunities. It didn’t take long for the pressure to tell as Lauren Stein scored from close range to give Phoenix a 1-0 half time lead.

Vikings remained strong in defence and looked to break on the counter. But it didn’t take long for Phoenix to seal the match as Nicole Stuart dispossessed a Vikings defender and neatly tucked the ball away.

Goals:

Phoenix- Lauren Stein, Nicole Stuart

Under 16 Boys Grand Final Sutherland Futsal d. Phoenix

Only one point separated these two sides on the competition ladder and although Sutherland claimed the premiership, Phoenix went in as favourites after winning the major semi final 9-1. Quick feet, sharp movement and tough tackles were all on show in typical fashion of this age group and both sides proved worthy of their spot in the final.

The opening ten minutes provided a series of highlights, but no goalmouth action. It wasn’t until the 12th minute that Phoenix found a way through after a lovely through ball was latched on to by Tom Manos for the opening goal. Manos doubled his goal tally and Phoenix’s lead just a minute later, placing a delicate chip over the Sutherland ‘keeper.

Both shot stoppers had plenty to do as Phoenix looked to further their lead and Sutherland searched for a way back into the match. A well-crafted back post play was finished off by Harry Ashcroft to take Phoenix to 3-0 at half time.

There was no reprieve for Sutherland in the second period as Phoenix rolled in a fourth just two minutes after the break. Phoenix then raced out to an unassailable 5-0 lead before Sutherland netted a consolation goal from the penalty spot.

Phoenix proved worthy of a spot in next year’s Futsal Premier League competition, running out 6-2 victors.

Goals:

Phoenix- Blake Cameron (2), Harry Ashcroft, Jay Noris, Tom Manos (2)

Sutherland- Jordan Guerreiro, Aydin Dervis

Under 16 Girls Grand Final Sutherland d. West City Crusaders 5-1

If ever it was tough to pick a winner, this was the game. The sides finished the season on equal points, with goal difference handing Sutherland the premiership. It was a 3-3 draw when they met in the regular season and West City’s tight 2-0 victory in the major semi final meant there was plenty more than a trophy to play for.

It was a bright start from the Crusaders girls, but Sutherland took just five minutes to get on the score sheet thanks to a finish from close range by Dione King. West City threatened to equalise and put pressure on the Sutherland defence, hitting the woodwork with a rocketing shot.

As so often happened throughout the Grand Final day, Sutherland broke on the counter and Jordan Baker’s shot was too much for the Crusaders ‘keeper to handle.

West City emerged from the break eager to recover the two-goal deficit. A Jessica Elliott free kick from half way was met on the head by Dimitie Whiteman to reduce the gap to 2-1. Game on. The tempo lifted from there but when Annelotte Birdsall stretched the lead to 3-1 in Sutherland’s favour, there was no way back for the Crusaders.

Goals:

Sutherland- Dione King, Morgan Maxwell, Annelotte Birdsall, Jordan Baker (2)

Youth Men Grand Final Northern Tigers d. West City Crusaders 2-0

The tale of the tape set up an enthralling encounter in the Youth Men’s Final. Equal on 24 points and with 57 goals scored a piece in the season, only one less goal against helped Northern Tigers finish on top. Tigers took out the major semi final with a resounding 6-0 victory but this match was a completely different story.

Possession was even and the ball moved from end-to-end. Tigers sent a flurry of shots at the Crusaders goal but they were unable to hit the target. West City had a chance to open the scoring before half time when the ball was cut across the face of goal but was unable to be met for the tap in.

The first breakthrough came two minutes into the second half when Northern Tigers rocketed a free kick through the Crusaders wall and into the goal for the opener. They should’ve doubled the lead just minutes later and could have rued their missed chances when Crusaders ‘keeper Shiyar Cakal made an outfield run and forced a great save from the Tigers shot stopper.

The intensity continued to lift and West City refused to back down, trying to exploit the Tigers’ fatigue. It was to no avail, however, and Nicolas Fraietta proved the heartbreaker, firing a low shot into the goal to give Northern Tigers a 2-0 lead and the Championship win.

Goals:

Tigers-Alexander Hatzinikolaou, Nicolas Fraietta

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