FUTSAL WA

R16 – Women’s Supa-Liga, 2021/22 Summer Season

Featured Match Review

The Women’s featured match of this weekend is Northern Hawks SC vs. Andinxs FC. The Andinxs were looking to gain a rare victory in this round 16 match up, but faced tough opponents in the Hawks who were still looking to break into the top two. The two sides have come up against each other three times already this season, the Hawks so far coming out on top so far with two wins and a draw. With the Hawks fielding a good mix of experience and youth, and the Andinxs calling up their more key players, the encounter was sure to be an exciting one.

Northern Hawks SC started in their favoured 4-0 formation to try and catch the Andinxs defence off guard. But it was the Andinxs that scored first after just 3 minutes of play. Noi Pukkaew picked up the ball and threw it into the path of Mazutti, with the Hawks caught flat in defense. Mazutti never broke stride and fired it into the top right corner with a first time shot to put her side up 1-0. The Hawks responded well, pressing hard and creating a few chances. Ruby Cohen hitting the crossbar and coming close to equalizing not long after going down a goal. Ingrid Gomez came close to adding a second for the Andinxs, but managed instead to miss from a metre out, skying the ball after a brilliant run and cross from Pukkaew.

Mazutti enjoying her Futsal

The miss didn’t seem to phase the Andinxs ad they added a second goal not long after. Mazutti and Gomez connecting again to create a chance from the flanks, Gomez eventually smashing in a cross that deflected off a Hawks player and into the goal. The well deserved 2-0 lead came as a shock to many, and a time-out was called to settle the Hawks nerves. The fly-keeper was then deployed for the Hawks for the remainder of the half and they continued with the tactic going into the second half. After weathering the storm for much of the half, the Hawks finally broke through after 8 minutes. Fly-keeper Hughes, tapping in at the back-post for the Hawks to give them some much needed encouragement.

5 minutes later the Hawks equalized through similar fashion. This time Sara Kifayatullah with the back post finish to level the scores at 2-2. With the Andinxs desperate for three points, the game opened up as chances started to fall for both sides. The end to end arm wrestle was finally broken up when Mazutti popped up for the Andinxs on the right flank and fired a low shot towards goal, beating Edwards and putting the Andinxs up 3-2 with just a minute remaining. The victory was secured when Gomez latched on to a mistake made by the Hawks goalkeeper, allowing her to tap into an empty net to end the match as 4-2 victors.

The win sees the Andinxs come off the bottom of the ladder and overtake a Phoenix team that managed to salvage a point against Perth Pumas FC. The 2-2 draw between the Pumas and the Phoenix makes the task much harder for the Pumas and their quest to finish the season as minor premiers. However, the West Coast Cobras did them a favour by defeating current league leaders, Western Devils FC by 3 goals to 1. The result once more tightens things up in the top four, with just 4 rounds remaining.