Recap

The final game of the 2017/18 season would decide the championship. Going into the game the Western Wolves sat top of the League with a victory for Carlton sealing back to back championships with only Hume standing in their way. Carlton got off to the dream start as Ernie Simsek opened the scoring with a classy finish. Ubeyde Cicek threw a spanner in the works as he lashed home an effort to tie the game. Some more lovely work from Simsek set up Atay Ibrahim for the tap in to have Carlton leading 2-1 at the halftime break.

Early in the second half, Hume would not lie down as Cicek cut inside and picked out the bottom corner for his second of the contest to again level proceedings. A bit of fortune saw Simsek find the ball with an open net and he made no mistake as he again gave Carlton the lead. Cicek was having a night to remember as he again finished under Tamburrino to complete his hat-trick and again have the scores level. A somewhat controversial penalty was awarded to Carlton for holding in the area and Simsek stepped up and dispatched the penalty to complete his hat-trick and put his side ahead again. They had some breathing space when a volley from Stephen Gustus was turned home by Abdirazak Ahmed as they got out to a 5-3 lead. Hume was giving it all they had and a long-range effort from Nejdett Sahin found its way under Tamburrino to have Hume within one. Frano Saric then made a long run out of his goal but turned the ball over and saw Stephen Gustus chip the ball over a scrambling defender to all but seal the title. Hume pulled another one back as Resit Culculoglu scored a flying header to again bring it within one. That was all she wrote as Carlton did enough to hold on and seal their second straight Series Futsal Victoria Championship.

Man of the match – Ernie Simsek (FC Carlton)