Pascoe Vale FC placed its claim as the best futsal team in Australia by securing its second-consecutive FAFL Cup, defeating Sydney Magic in the final.
Pascoe Vale looked almost untouchable in the group stages, playing beautiful, attractive, free flowing futsal which allowed them to top score with 15 goals (four more than any other team) and achieving the best goal difference of +9, a staggering +7 better than their closest rival.
Pascoe’s squad depth was also one of their strong points, with every member of the squad knowing the game plan and were able to execute orders when required. This unity helped them overcome powerhouse teams Vic Vipers and Fremantle Muita Calma in the lead up to the final.
Sydney Magic, on the other hand, were a lot more harder at the ball and while they were quite handy with the ball at their feet, the Magic lads never shied away from a physical battle – an attribute which almost cost them a place in the semi’s, receiving two red cards in their final group game. The two red cards were dealt to their two most influential players in Futsalroo players Aaron Cimitile and Dean Lockhart, so it was little wonder that they were written off in the quarter final stage.
But the Magic thrived under the pressure to record a famous 2-1 win over the Parramatta Blues, galvanising the squad and setting them up for their maiden grand final showing.
But despite an early goal lead, there was no fairytale for Magic, going down 5-1 to Pascoe Vale in the final.
Lucas Kruel’s two-goal effort in the final ensured him the Golden Boot award for the tournament, while French star Sofiane Soufi also scored two goals in the final. Andre Caro won the tournament’s MVP award, while the Golden Glove went to Pascoe Vales’s Lorenzo De Paris.