2018-2019 SFL Round 20 wrap-up
Friday night lights at the Pro Futsal Centre in Bibra Lake started with Perth AFC taking on Balga FC. And, what a way to start Round 20 with AFC completing the comeback of the season to defeat Balga 5-4. Balga has started strongly and led 4-1 halfway through the 2nd half, with Luqman Sayyed starring with 2 goals. At which point AFC head coach Jon Bucolo called a time out. AFC then went on a 4-0 scoring run to claim an unlikely victory. Andrija Jukic once again taking the spoils for AFC with 2 late goals, taking his season tally to 20 goals in only 10 matches.
This extraordinary match was followed by Rockingham Cambio Cumbre FC taking on Spearwood Lions FC. Cumbre had thumped the Lions 7-0 earlier in the season. But, Spearwood have been showing improved form lately and caused the shock of the season in defeating Cumbre 4-3 with Kelechi Nmeni shining with 2 goals and Blake Webb starring in goals. For Nmeni it was a coming of age performance, in the process taking his season tally to 8 goals in 16 matches. As for Cumbre, the admirable moment was when Andrew Law made his debut and was close to assisting with his 1st touch and later scoring with his 2nd touch. A fine debut by the youngster.
The final match of the evening saw Murdoch Warriors FC surprise Curtin Footballista FC with a commanding 5-1 win. Murdoch are in fine form and knocking on the door for a top 6 spot. Once again Massimo Basolu starred, scoring 3 exceptional goals to take his season tally to 14 goals in 18 matches. Footballista struggled to get into the match, as Murdoch made it difficult for them to settle with their solid defence and speedy counter-attacks.
Saturday’s round up of matches commenced with an entertaining 3-3 draw between Fremantle FC and Perth Longobarda FC, with Ricardo Louro making his debut for Longobarda in goals. A seesawing match that saw the goals shared by various players from both sides with Fremantle scoring from a free kick and 2 back post tap-ins and Longobarda focusing on goals from counter-attacks.
The match of the round was a tight tussle between Stirling Braza Ginga FC and Cockburn EWA FC, with EWA securing a low scoring 1-0 victory. Alex Gamble scored the solitary goal, making it 22 goals in 18 appearances this season. In a match that produced few chances, both goalkeepers excelled. In the end, a highly technical match resulted in the lowest scoring game of the season.
The final match of another blockbuster round saw Joondalup ECU Jets defeat South Perth FC 5-3. Jonny Hill starred for ECU with 2 late goals, to take his season tally to 7 goals in 17 matches. Meanwhile, youngster Jack Tozawa again justified his selection for the South Perth first team with 2 more goals (6 goals in 4 matches). Pro Futsal and the State Futsal League would like to wish Joe Higgins a speedy recovery after a head clash saw him taken to hospital to receive stitches to his forehead.
And that brought Round 20 to a conclusion, a round that witnessed the comeback of the season (AFC), the surprise of the season (Spearwood) and the lowest scoring match of the season, between 2 sides that will likely be there or thereabouts when the finals come to town in June (Braza & EWA).
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