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The National Futsal Series summer showdown put on a fantastic showcase for the sport with three entertaining finals at the University of Wolverhampton.
Bolton 2–3 London Helvecia – Women’s Super Series
Bolton goalkeeper Joy Lowe was forced into action on a number of occasions in the first half, showing strong shot-stopping ability to keep Helvecia at bay.
The favourites Helvecia worked the ball well and as expected, controlled possession within the opening stages but Bolton were resolute and structured in their defensive play.
That ability to keep Helvecia away from dangerous areas gave Bolton confidence and Zara Musker in particular led fast-paced counter attacking moves that began to open up Helvecia.
Bolton pressure that had been building eventually paid off in the latter stages of the first half as Musker’s deflected effort looped over Alicia Grimmond into the back of the net to give the North West outfit a shock lead.
It could quite easily have been a second soon after as the momentum of that goal opened up space for Bolton to exploit and Helvecia were happy to see the half time whistle to regroup.
Helvecia continued to take long-range efforts from dead ball situations to no avail in the early parts of the second half, looking to gain a quick equaliser to build on into the 15 minutes.
Despite Helvecia looking to take command, it was Bolton who found that vital second goal as a superb, switched aerial ball from Leah Embley found Meg Boydell on the volley who met the bottom left corner.
Helvecia upped the pace with their attacking play after that as time ticked down and a direct ball into the area caused problems for goalkeeper Joy Lowe who wiped out Charlotte Gurr as she aimed at goal, earning a penalty for the London side.
Ana Alvarez calmly dispatched the penalty to bring Helvecia back into the game and looked to build on that as she tried to beat Lowe from range, but it was well saved by the Bolton stopper.
Helvecia’s pressure continued to build, and Sasha Adamson somehow missed the target as she slid in following a ball across the face from Alvarez.
Joy Lowe continued to bail out her side in the Bolton goal with a number of last-ditch saves, looking liked a seasoned professional despite only being 16 years of age.
Zara Musker led by example on the front and back foot with a last-minute sliding tackle to deny a sure goal in the area from Helvecia.
The pace of the game in the final stages was exactly as you expect from a futsal game with both sides showing technique and ball control that was befitting of a grand final.
After holding on for so long Bolton could not make it until the end of the game as a long ball to Charlotte Gurr straight from a timeout allowed Helvecia to level against a tiring opposition with four minutes to play.
Six fouls on the board for Bolton meant with two minutes to go a 10-metre penalty was awarded to Helvecia but a strong save down the middle from Lowe denied Buyukgiray.
But there was nothing she could do about Alvarez’s strike into the top left corner from the edge of the area to turn things around with just two minutes remaining.
And that is how it ended with London Helvecia winning the grand final 3-2.
Bolton put in a phenomenal performance coming into the game as underdogs but the fitness levels and quality of Helvecia began to show in the final stages.
Joy Lowe without a doubt was the man of the match as a 16-year-old making a number of vital saves to keep her Bolton side in the game until the very end.
Wessex 10–1 London Escolla – National Futsal Series Two Final
Interestingly both sides started off this game with a fly-keeper looking to gain a numerical advantage in their build up play.
After a cagey opening couple of minutes, Connor Millar got on to the ball in a dangerous area centrally, shifted his feet and fired into the bottom right corner to open the scoring for Wessex just three minutes in.
Wessex continued to look lively up top and just a minute later they doubled their lead as a fine through ball from Millar found Jordan Matthews and he fired home with the experienced side running over the youngsters of Escolla early on.
It was quickly becoming an uphill struggle for Escolla and a defensive error let Matthews in, round the keeper and slot home for a third with just five minutes gone.
Connor Millar and Jordan Matthews looked a level above everybody else on the court, with their telepathic understanding opening up Escolla on the counter on a number of occasions.
And it was that man Matthews again as the first half reached the latter stages who calmly lifted the ball over Vitor Manata in the Escolla goal to get his hat-trick and cement Wessex’s commanding lead.
Wessex were rubbing salt into the wounds and an unfortunate own goal from London Escolla made it five before half time.
Escolla were forced to overload as a 5v4 when on the ball with a fly-keeper to try and gain a foothold in the game, but Wessex’s deadly counter play was making things even more difficult.
Wessex started off the second half just as they ended the first with the tempo of their build up play a level above Escolla, Matthews again finishing well for his fourth and Wessex’s sixth of the afternoon.
Escolla were professional and continued to work towards goal as they hit the post straight up the other end before hitting the bar through Camilo Restrepo as it just was not their day.
Wessex were breaking a lax press from Escolla as the timing of their off the ball work was wayward, this time Terry New finished well on the right-hand side to make it 7-0.
Escolla continued to work away and a brilliant strike from Bustamante gave them a well earned goal after creating an array of chances throughout the occasion.
But Wessex quickly taught them a futsal lesson as a well worked one-two found Terry New who rounded the keeper and slotted away to make it 8-1.
Yet again New found space in the right area as Wessex showcased their Tier One potential, chipping the goalkeeper for his hat-trick.
With Escolla playing a permanent fly-keeper in the latter stages, Wessex keeper Charlie Philpott took a quick kick out of his hands that flew over the Escolla defence and into the empty net to bring up the double figures.
Jordan Matthews was the clear man of the match with the U21 international a tricky operator and clinical finisher at this level.
Pro Futsal London 0–4 London Helvecia – National Futsal Series One Final (For UCL Qualification)
The early stages of this one were tentative with both teams feeling each other out with the best chance of the first five falling to Pro after Helvecia keeper Mark Croft slipped bringing the ball out of his area but Pro could not capitalise.
Croft quickly made up for his mistake with a phenomenal last-ditch save to deny Pro on the attack again as Pro held control of the game through the ever-impressive Toluwanimi Sotonye.
Helvecia, having been on the backfoot throughout the opening stages, began to gain a foothold in the game with a couple of chances falling to Guilherme Monti but Jonny Sim saved well.
Another chance for that man Monti looked to be creeping over the goaline but Pro got back quickly to clear away and regroup.
Helvecia were working it much more effectively in the latter stages of the first half with angled balls being chested down into the path of Ribeiro, who then went on to hit the woodwork moments later.
The first half ended in frenetic fashion with end-to-end play in the fast-paced encounter, Pro breaking well but Denerson placed the ball just wide of the target.
With just 13 seconds of the first half remaining, a potential foul from Monti is not given and he continues his run stabbing home past Jonny Sim to open the scoring for Helvecia.
A perfect start to the second half for Helvecia saw them double the lead through Eduardo Tijerin as he drove down the left-hand side and his toe-poke finish glanced past the keeper into the right bottom corner.
They quickly had a long-range chance to get a third as their quality was shining through against tough opposition as goalkeeper Mark Croft fired from range with the effort well saved.
Pro did well to stay in the game thanks to keeper Jonny Sim enabling them to have something to hang on to heading into the final ten minutes, but their pressing intensity had continued to drop throughout the game.
However, it was inevitable that Helvecia were going to seal the game and Liam Palfreeman did just that taking the ball across his body and slotting home to finally strike the killer blow for an impressive outfit.
Pro called a timeout straight after the goal looking to bring out a power play taking off their goalkeeper for an outfield player as they pushed to overload play with nine minutes left.
That aggressive tactic still could not play dividends and Helvecia inevitably broke through Raoni Medina who slotted home to make it 4-0 and there was no way back for Pro as Helvecia sealed their place in the Champions League and as NFS Champions.
Man of the Match had to be Guilherme Monti who completely changed the game when he came on after early Pro dominance, his playmaking and ability to open up space created an abundance of chances for London Helvecia.
Final thoughts
Having not delved into the futsal world to any real extent before, this came as a steep learning curve and gave me a newfound respect for a sport that rightfully stands on its own.
The technical ability of players alongside the pace and intensity of the game gives a basketball feel to the sport, not least with the tactical aspects of the sport which are a lot more extensive than you feel at a glance.
There are various rules in the sport that give it its own feel and need for tactical skill that is unique to the sport.
Sides in both the men’s and women’s game produced moments of quality and put on a fantastic showcase for a sport that is growing considerably in the United Kingdom, following the path of their European counterparts.
London Helvecia with that victory secured their place in the next UEFA Champions League futsal competition.
I would encourage everyone to keep tabs on the National Futsal League for the forthcoming season.
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