FUTSAL WA

R12 – Men’s Supa-Liga, 2021/22 Summer Season

Featured Match Review

The Featured match of round 12 was between Futsal Factory and Perth Pumas Futsal Club. The Factory were still holding on to the fifth and final spot of qualifying going into this match and needed a positive result in order to solidify their position. Perth Pumas on the other hand were looking comfortable at the top of the table, having been unbeaten in 9 rounds now and gaining more and more momentum with the finals just over a month away. The Pumas welcomed back first team keeper Blair Stroud in goals after a lengthy absence due to injury, and he was sure to be tested today with both Van der Heiden brothers available to play for the Factory.

It didn’t take long for the Factory to start firing, Nic van der Heiden with his trademark powerful drive from a direct free-kick, settling in the back of the net after just two minutes. The Pumas replied with a goal of their own just a minute later after the ball dropped for Mulholland, squeezing it through the keepers legs for the equalizer. Both sides seemed to settle after the lightning start and it wasn’t until the 13th minute when Rama Elliot found the net from a corner set piece, giving the Pumas the lead. The Factory then started to push forward more, testing Stroud on multiple occasions in the Pumas goal, Stroud holding firm until the half-time whistle.

Van der Heiden stepping up to the free-kick

It was a different story in the second half as the Pumas began to show exactly why they were top of the league. Three minutes into the half, Jehel came onto the court and with his first action, dribbled the ball with pace through the middle of the court, beating three defenders and slotting the ball coolly through the legs of the keeper to double the Pumas lead. Just a few minutes later, Vessey tapped in at the back post for the fourth after a well worked counter attack. It seemed that the Factory just didn’t have any luck remaining in the match, the Pumas fifth goal coming from a Elliot mis-kick and beating the unsuspecting Tarvel in the Factory goals.

The sixth and final goal for the Pumas came with just a few seconds left on the clock. Amar Jehel intercepting a pass in the middle of the court and finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Jehel finished it clinically into the bottom corner for his second of the match to cap off his MVP performance. The 6-1 loss for the Factory could prove to be significant leading up to the finals, with Phoenix picking up a free 3-0 forfeit win against Andinxs FC. Phoenix and Andinxs now sit on 10 points, the former being ahead on goal difference, the Factory in fifth with 12 points.

The later Men’s matches of the round had the West Coast Cobras see off a determined Scarborough Sharks side who were without a recognized goalkeeper for the majority of the match. The Cobras had already done the damage by the time Middleton stepped in goals for the Sharks, the match ended 7-3 in the Cobras favour. Northern Hawks defeated ECU Jets 3-1 to keep up the pace with the Pumas at the top of the ladder. The Jets are still in with a fighting chance to get to the finals but will be needing to improve their goal scoring record.