Futsal Navy Blues Stay Unbeaten

Words: ACFC Media

Sunday 23 February 2025

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City x NRF Men’s Ford Futsal Super League team continued their unbeaten start to the season with three draws and a win in the 2025 Northern Travel Series held in Napier this weekend.

Game 1: vs Bay of Plenty Surge (Saturday 11:00 am)
The weekend kicked off with a competitive end-to-end match against Bay of Plenty Surge. The Futsal Navy Blues took the lead in the 9th minute when Lucas Silva turned the ball into his own net. However, the Surge equalized four minutes later, with former Futsal Navy Blue Kern Platts-Mills slipping the ball past Mike Antamanov, sending the teams into the halftime break locked at 1-1.

Early in the second half, Futsal White Oban Hawkins put the Futsal Navy Blues back in the lead. In a tactical move, the Surge deployed a fifth attacker by replacing goalkeeper Harris Edlin with Connor Cloete. The strategy paid off, as the Surge equalized in the 38th minute, ensuring a share of the spoils.

Game 2: vs Waikato Rapids (Saturday 3:00 pm)
The second match of the weekend was a rematch of the 2024 Ford Futsal Super League final against Waikato Rapids. The Rapids took the lead in the 36th minute through Andrew Olsen. However, Dylan Manickum equalized within the same minute, securing a second point of the day for the Futsal Navy Blues.

Game 3: vs Bay of Plenty Surge (Sunday 9:00 am)
Day two of the Northern Travel Series commenced with an early kickoff against Bay of Plenty Surge. Dylan Manickum fired the Futsal Navy Blues into the lead in the 11th minute, which was doubled by Adam Bolland in the 21st minute and extended further by Alex Roberts in the 23rd minute.

Despite a Mike Antamanov own goal and a late strike by Samaan Teinapi giving the Surge hope, the result was sealed in the 38th minute when Denny Twigg scored the Futsal Navy Blues' fourth goal, securing their first win of the weekend.

Game 4: vs Waikato Rapids (Sunday 1:00 pm)
The series concluded with another match against Waikato Rapids, described as a game of two halves. Oban Hawkins scored twice in quick succession (6th and 12th minutes), and Dylan Manickum extended the lead in the 15th minute, giving the Futsal Navy Blues a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime.

However, things can change quickly in futsal. The Rapids pulled one back in the 26th minute, before Aidan Robson scored from the penalty spot in the 35th minute. George Dixon's goal with just 11 seconds left on the clock secured the defending champions a point and left the Futsal Navy Blues with their third draw of the weekend.

Other Games:
Hawke's Bay Futsal secured 9 points from a possible 12 with wins over the Waikato Rapids (2-0) and Bay of Plenty Surge (4-3) on Saturday, and Bay of Plenty Surge (6-1) on Sunday. They only fell to the Waikato Rapids (7-3) in Sunday's opening game.

Next Up: National Series 1
Auckland City FC x NRF will next compete in National Series 1 of the Ford Futsal Super League at the Akau Tangi Sports Centre in Kilbirnie, Wellington, on the 15th and 16th of March, facing Southern United, Palmerston North Marist, Capital Futsal, and Canterbury United Futsal Dragons.

Ends