FC Melbourne Athletic (7th) 3-8 (5th) FC Footscray (Futsal Club)
MEL – D.Smeathers 2, C.Fubris
FOOT – Z.Ilahee 3, M.Rojas 2, Min.Chowdhury, Meh.Chowdhury, V.Moretti
With a sub par start to the season for both teams a win was on the top of the list of necessities going into the game but a host of fresh faces for Melbourne meant that for them a win might be too far out of reach. After a tight start with teams trading a goal Footscray took off as they hit 4 in a row toward the end of the half including a double from Ilahee and a miraculous goal that went straight in from a corner by Minhaz Chowdhury.
Leading 5-2 at the half Footscray just needed to keep their leading cushion and they did just that with Ilahee finishing off his hat trick before Miguel Rojas sealed the game with a second half double. The win puts Footscray even with 3 wins and 3 losses but for Melbourne 4 points from 6 games will have the alarm bells ringing as they search for a way to find their success from last season once again.
Man of the Match – Zahin Ilahee (FC Footscray)
Melbourne University Futsal Club (4th) 8-4 (6th) RMIT Football Club
MU – S.Lally 3, J.Woodcock 2, E.Park, T.Zeitlhofer, L.Jester
RMIT – R.McPhillips, B.Grillo, V.Marino, A.Logozzo
It was the first encounter in the university showdown with Elite League stalwarts Melbourne Uni taking on the rapid rising RMIT. Uni opened the scoring when a long range shot from Jester was deflected slightly by Woodcock through the legs of Tizar before Sean Lally took over the first half scoring 3 in a row to take Melbourne Uni out to a 4-0 lead. A late goal from RMIT captain Richard McPhillips saw them peg one back before half time to keep them in the game.
Second half saw the game open up considerably as an RMIT goal for Grillo was cancelled out by one from Park and with the game at 5-2 the scoring rested for a brief period. Quickly after Woodcock grabbed his brace finishing off a team move at the back post before the goal of the game was scored by Victor Marino after Marino helped RMIT win a corner with a fine nutmeg he smashed home a volley with perfect technique into the top corner. RMIT’s come back hopes were short lived however as Melbourne Uni’s defensive rock Lucas Jester scored a fine goal as he turned Marino leaving him on the floor and giving Tizar no chance with his shot. A few late back post goals from Logozzo and Zeitlhofer upped the scores but Melbourne Uni ran out comfortable winners to claim the University bragging rights.
Man of the Match – Lucas Jester (Melbourne Uni FC)
Mt. Evelyn Futsal Club (2nd) 2-3 (1st) Doncaster Futsal Club
MTE – S.Ung, L.McClure
DON – M.Alkhridah 3
In the top of the table clash it was Mt Evelyn coming off their first loss of the season taking on last years runners up Doncaster with winner jumping 3 points clear in first. In a tight first half both teams were happy to take it slow as neither team pushed the pace of the game. It was Mt Evelyn’s captain Sok Ung that opened up the scoring and his solitary goal had Mt Evelyn sitting at the top of the table at half time.
In the second half Monty Alkridah got Doncaster back into the game with an equaliser but Mt Evelyn stayed ahead when the superb Liam McClure got on the scoresheet. Doncaster would keep fighting all game and Mt Evelyn were not backing down as the game became very physical. Alkhridah would equalise for the second time in the game before in the final minute he would head the ball in off the underside of the crossbar to complete his hat trick and claim top spot for Doncaster in a fantastic come back.
Man of the Match – Monty Alkhridah (Doncaster FC)
Preston Futsal Club (3rd) 5-1 (8th) CF South Melbourne
PRE – N.Jamieson 3, N.Atzarakis 2
SM – J.Hoffman
Preston started well against the bottom placed South Melbourne as they raced out to a very early 3-0 lead thanks to a double from Nikolas Jamieson and a fine goal from Nathan Atzarakis. The 3-0 lead stood for majority of the half with neither team able to hit the back of the net with big thanks to Preston’s goalkeeper John Kikianis.
Josh Hoffmann hit back for South Melbourne to take the score to 3-1 but Preston pushed on late in the second period as Jamieson finished his hat trick and Atzarakis his brace. South Melbourne’s night went from bad to worse when Lukas Bay suffered an injury right at the end of the game. As for Preston they jumped into equal second with Mt Evelyn as the league remains tight at the top.
Man of the Match – John Kikianis (FC Preston)
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