Futsal Navy Blues lead SuperLeague

Words: Nick Brown

Tuesday 21 March 2023

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The Futsal Navy Blues lead the way in the Ford Futsal SuperLeague despite losing their unbeaten record after Monday’s action in National Series 1 at the Trusts Arena in Waitakere.

Auckland City FC share top spot of the competition with Capital Futsal with only goal difference the critical factor in favour of the Futsal Navy Blues.

v. Canterbury United - lost 1-3

In a repeat of Sunday night’s match, the Futsal Navy Blues faced Canterbury United and the Dragons were fast out of the blocks getting themselves into a deserved 3-0 lead.

Despite a lot of time on the ball, and creating a lot of chances, the Futsal Navy Blues did not get on the scoresheet until Denny Twigg lashed home a consolation goal with the last kick of the game to deny the Dragons a clean sheet.

GOAL!!!! 9-2

Adam Paulsen with his second of the game.

@PhototekNZ #FutsalNavyBlues #StrengthInUnity #FordFutsalSuperLeague pic.twitter.com/B8d6M2sMf1
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) March 20, 2023

v. Hawke's Bay Futsal - won 10-2

In the second game against cellar dwellers Hawke’s Bay Futsal, Bahram Ahmadi got the Futsal Navy Blues on the scoresheet early on placing his shot past Hawke’s Bay keeper Liam Percy-Fysh after two minutes. The lead was doubled on the 11 minute mark when through Art Twigg before Adam Paulsen then Eduardo Exposito Espinosa stretched the lead out to 4-0.

Hawke’s Bay got themselves on the scoresheet through Jacob Riley in the 14th minute firing past Vaughan Somerville to give his side hope with the scores sitting at 4-1 at the half time interval.

Hawke’s Bay had the gap further reduced early in the second half when a Navy Blues player turned the ball into the back of his own net before captain Stephen Ashby got on the scoring action before Art Twigg secured his brace with a fine finish before Ashby secured his brace in quick succession.

GOAL!!! 7-2

GOAL!!! The skipper has his second Stephen Ashby with a great finish.

@PhototekNZ #FutsalNavyBlues #StrengthInUnity #FordFutsalSuperleague pic.twitter.com/6vuT8D53LH
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) March 20, 2023

There were further goals to Ahmadi and Paulsen to bring up their second goals of the game before Sam Twigg lashed home a fantastic goal to help the Futsal Navy Blues bring up double figures against the same opposition twice in two days the game finishing at 10-2.

Coach Nic Downes - Interview

For head coach Nic Downes the result was a good response to the disappointment of the morning.

He said: “It went well for us everyone was a bit disappointed to not get the result this morning so it was a good way to finish the weekend, this puts us back on top of the table and gets us set up well for next weekend”

“I always enjoy all the goals from the team goals to the individual goals a lot of moments that were enjoyable to watch. As for the weekend as a whole it’s a gruelling weekend trying to get through the six games it’s a challenge for the players the fatigue they accumulate it’s hard to maintain the focus and I think we did a pretty good job of that we got the points we got the goals we are in a good place going into the final series”

The Futsal Navy Blues return to action in two weeks time when the National Series 2 comes to Wellington with matches against Southern United and Capital Futsal on Saturday April 1 before the knockout stages on Sunday April 2 you can catch all the action on the New Zealand Football YouTube channel and on Auckland City FC’s website and social media channels.

Ends

Ford Futsal SuperLeague - National Series One

Match Day 1

Match Result
Ford Futsal SuperLeague National Series One
Saturday 18 March 2023
Auckland City FC 2 (Dom HAWKINS, Thomas PICKEN)
Capital Futsal 2 (Micky MALIVUK, Tyler ERIKSEN)

Match Result
Ford Futsal SuperLeague National Series One
Saturday 18 March 2023
Auckland City FC 4 (Thomas PICKEN 2, Sam TWIGG, Dom HAWKINS)
Southern United 0

Ford Futsal SuperLeague - National Series One

Match Day 2

Match Result
Ford Futsal SuperLeague National Series One
Sunday 19 March 2023
Auckland City FC 11 (Josh MARGETTS 3, Denny TWIGG 2, Art TWIGG 2, Bahram AHMADI, Adam PAULSEN, Eduardo Exposito ESPINOSA, Shaun MORGAN)
Hawke's Bay Futsal 1 (Mustafa CAN)

Match Result
Ford Futsal SuperLeague National Series One
Sunday 19 March 2023
Auckland City FC 5 (Art TWIGG 2, Eduardo Exposito ESPINOSA, Thomas PICKEN, Bahram AHMADI)
Canterbury United Dragons 3 (Hemi INNES, UNKNOWN 2)

Ford Futsal SuperLeague - National Series One

Match Day 3

Match Result
Ford Futsal SuperLeague National Series One
Monday 20 March 2023
Auckland City FC 1 (Denny TWIGG)
Canterbury United Dragons 3 (UNKNOWN 3)

Match Result
Ford Futsal SuperLeague National Series One
Monday 20 March 2023
Auckland City FC 10 (Stephen ASHBY-PECKHAM 2, Bahram AHMADI 2, Adam PAULSEN 2, Art TWIGG 2, Eduardo Exposito ESPINOSA, Sam TWIGG)
Hawke's Bay Futsal 2 (Jacob RILEY, Own GOAL)

Ford Futsal SuperLeague - Northern Travel Series

Match Day 1

Match Result
Ford Futsal SuperLeague Northern Travel Series
Saturday 11 March 2023
Bay of Plenty Surge 4 (Arran CARTER 3, Mario RAMOS)
Auckland City FC 8 (Thomas PICKEN 4, Bahram AHMADI 3, Shaun MORGAN)

Match Result
Ford Futsal SuperLeague Northern Travel Series
Saturday 11 March 2023
Waikato Rapids 2 (Max ERIKSEN 2)
Auckland City FC 9 (Aalok PAUDEL, Art TWIGG 2, Eduardo Exposito ESPINOSA, Bahram AHMADI 2, Sam TWIGG, Dom HAWKINS, Stephen ASHBY-PECKHAM)

Ford Futsal SuperLeague - Northern Travel Series

Match Day 2

Match Result
Ford Futsal SuperLeague Northern Travel Series
Sunday 12 March 2023
Auckland City FC 9 (Eduardo Exposito ESPINOSA 2, Dom HAWKINS 2, Bahram AHMADI 2, Thomas PICKEN, Sam TWIGG, Stephen ASHBY-PECKHAM
Bay of Plenty Surge 1 (Thomas McMILLAN)

Match Result
Ford Futsal SuperLeague Northern Travel Series
Sunday 12 March 2023
Auckland City FC 7 (Thomas PICKEN 2, Dom HAWKINS, Adam PAULSEN, Sam TWIGG, Denny TWIGG, Josh MARGETTS)
Waikato Rapids 2 (Casey SHARPLIN 2)