2017 State League One – Round 3:
Preston Futsal Club 5-4 FC Footscray (Futsal Club)
PRE – N.Atzarakis 3, D.Labombarda, V.Moretti (OG)
FOOT – Z.Ilahee, M.Yap, V.Moretti, M.Rojas
Both teams were 1-1 coming into the game and not having faced each other in over a year it was too tough to judge who the favourite was before the game. It was Footscray who ran out of the blocks as goals from Rojas, Moretti, Ilahee and Yap took them out to a comfortable lead. Unfortunately for Moretti he also scored at the wrong end and with an Atzarakis goal it was only a 2 goal lead for Footscray.
It was in the second half it all went wrong for Footscray as Preston came out fighting. Nathan Atzarakis bagged two goals in 10 minutes to complete his hat trick and tie up the scores at 4 a piece and the game was back level. In a close and fiery end to the game it could have swung either way but up popped the new signing from Wollert Damian Labombarda to beat Ramkishore to score the winner in the dying stages.
Man of the Match – Nathan Atzarakis (FC Preston)
2017 State League One – Round 3:
Mt. Evelyn Futsal Club 5-2 RMIT Football Club
MTE – J.Vasilevski 2, L.McLure 2, E.Truong
RMIT – V.Marino 2
Two teams with opposite starts to the season as the impressive Mt Evelyn took on the winless RMIT. Despite being on opposite ends of the ladder the game was incredibly close in the first half as neither team could find an easy avenue through to goals. Victor Marino was back for RMIT and his first half goal kept the scores level at the break after Edward Truong’s opener for Mt Evelyn earlier in the half.
As the second half wore on Mt Evelyn controlled more and more of the game and their persistence was rewarded as Liam Mclure who had been in fine form once again found the back of the net. from then on he and Jay Vasilevski took over the goal scoring with two goals a piece in the second half. For RMIT Marino netted another to show how important he is to the team but this was far from all that was needed as they could not break Mt Evelyn’s undefeated start to the season.
Man of the Match – Liam McLure (Mt Evelyn FC)
2017 State League One – Round 3:
Melbourne University Futsal Club 4-3 CF South Melbourne
MU – E.Tasker, L.Jester, W.Nack, S.Michaels
SM – A.Rodrigues, P.Iliopos
Another pair of teams with a single win and loss took on each other as an ever improving South Melbourne was hurt by the loss of their new german player Lukas Bay. This did not hamper them early on as the up and coming star of the team Aneek Rodrigues had another 2 goals to his name including one in the first minute. Melbourne Uni kept the game level by halftime however as Lucas Jester and Ed Tasker scored toward the end of the half.
Peter Iliopos gave South Melbourne the best start possible as they hit the lead after the break through a finish past new keeper Anandra Prakaso. South Melbourne were able to hold onto the lead until with 6 minutes remaining Peter Iliopos denied a goalscoring opportunity with a bad tackle and was sent his marching orders. Melbourne Uni scored with the man advantage to equalise before South had their hearts broken by Sean Michael who banged home the winner with an emphatic finish to give Uni their second win of the season.
Man of the Match – Lucas Jester (Melbourne Uni FC)
2017 State League One – Round 3:
Doncaster Futsal Club 2-5 FC Melbourne Athletic
DON – J.Koh, A.Lee
MEL – D.Smeathers 2, E.Evans, S.Benhim, M.Ayayi
After a disappointing start to the season Melbourne had a tough game against rivals from last season Doncaster in a sure to be cracking game. Melbourne looked a much improved side and an early goal past Paschalidis set the tone for the game with the old guard of David Smeathers and Ed Evans getting the ball rolling. With 3 goals between the two players Melbourne took the lead at the break but not without a fight from Doncaster as goals to Lee and Koh meant it was still tight at the break.
Doncaster struggled to find a way through as new keeper James Ambrose kept them at bay all throughout the second half. Melbourne would find goals through their Mt Evelyn recruited pair Benhim and Ayayi to polish off the victory as they look to move on past their poor start to the season.
Man of the Match – David Smeathers (FC Melbourne)
Ladder:
