Tough weekend for Futsal Navy Blues
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - The Futsal Navy Blues, in partnership with NRF, finish National Series One on a high after beating Palmerston North Marist 5-3.
But three tough matches mean the Nic Downes' coached side now sit 5 points behind competition leaders Canterbury United who look in ominous form with 9 wins and a draw from their ten games to date.
City's Series got off to a difficult start when they drew 2-2 with Canterbury. A goal for each team through Freddie Gibbins and Ben Cameron after the restart turned the heat up and that only intensified after Jirayu Twigg was sent off for a a foul on 31 minutes.
Canterbury United took full advantage when Hemi Innes netted a minute later but Denny Twigg saved the day when he equalised on 39 minutes to hand City a 2-2 draw.
Southern United were next up and they proved just as tricky as their near neighbours. Adam Paulsen opened the scoring for City but United went in front after En Watanabe and Rahan Ali flipped the match on its head.
Art Twigg levelled for City just before the break but it was George Willett who restored United's lead to make it 3-2. It looked like defeat was on the cards for the Futsal Navy Blues only for a last gasp own goal by Dominic Hawkins to wrap up a pulsating 3-3 draw.
The luck that carried City on Saturday finally evaporated on Sunday morning when Capital Futsal won a tight encounter by 2-1. Futsal White Stephen Ashby Peckham was on target to give City an early lead but Michael Plim and Capital skipper Luc Saker produced goals that gave a vital win to Grant Baker and his team.
The disappointment of defeat was offset by a comfortable 5-3 win over Palmerston North Marist. Denny Twigg scored after 7 minutes to ensure City had a half time lead but mayhem unfolded in the second half with five goals in just four frantic minutes.
VIDEO - Futsal Navy Blues National Series Review
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) March 17, 2024
The Futsal Navy Blues, in partnership with NRF, end their National Series One with a crucial win over Marist, following an upset loss to Capital on Matchday 2#WeAreNavyBlue pic.twitter.com/auOPMsSVqo
Kern Platts-Mills and Art Twigg netted to put City 3-0 up only for a Zachary Farmer brace to throw the match back into the balance. Adam Paulsen restored City's superiority to make it 4-2 and hand his team a degree of comfort in the closing stages.
Veteran Micky Malivuk upset proceedings when he scored with five minutes to go at 4-3, which allowed Auckland City FC goalkeeper Vaughan Somerville the chance to become the hero for the Futsal Navy Blues when he scored a fifth to ensure a 5-3 win.
Auckland City FC is next in action when they host the National Series Two at Bruce Pullman Arena in Auckland on 23-25 March 2024.
City face Southern United, Capital Futsal, Palmerston North Marist and Canterbury United in what is sure to be an epic round of games.
The Final Series is scheduled for Monday 25 March where a top four finish gaurantees a semi-final spot with the two winners moving forward to the final set for 2.00pm.
Ends
Match Results
Ford Futsal Super League National Series 1
Saturday 16 March 2024
Auckland City FC 2 (Freddie GIBBINS 26', Denny TWIGG 39')
Canterbury United 2 (Ben CAMERON 26', Hemi INNES 32')
HT: 0-0.
*Red Card Jirayu TWIGG 31 minutes
Ford Futsal Super League National Series 1
Saturday 16 March 2024
Auckland City FC 3 (Adam PAULSEN 2', Art TWIGG 19', Dominic HAWKINS O.G. 40')
Southern United 3 (En WATANABE 8', Rahan ALI 13', George WILLETT 36')
HT: 2-2.
Ford Futsal Super League National Series 1
Sunday 17 March 2024
Capital Futsal 2 (Michael PLIM 6', Luc SAKER 21')
Auckland City FC 1 (Stephen ASHBY-PECKHAM 2')
HT: 1-1.
Ford Futsal Super League National Series 1
Sunday 17 March 2024
Auckland City FC 5 (Denny TWIGG 7', Kern PLATT-MILLS 25', Art TWIGG 26', Adam PAULSEN 29', Vaughan SOMERVILLE 38')
Palmerston North Marist 3 (Zachary FARMER 26', 27', Micky MALIVUK 35')
HT: 1-0.
Ford Futsal SuperLeague - Standings
| Rank | Team Name | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | GF | GA | Points | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canterbury | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 25 | 28 | 22 |
| 2 | Auckland City FC | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 16 | 23 | 17 |
| 3 | Capital | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 33 | 27 | 16 | 6 |
| 4 | Waikato | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 46 | 35 | 14 | 11 |
| 5 | Southern | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 34 | 28 | 13 | 6 |
| 6 | BOP Surge | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 48 | 7 | -30 |
| 7 | PN Marist | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 42 | 6 | -19 |
| 8 | HB Futsal | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 27 | 40 | 5 | -13 |
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Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AC | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 7 | 18 |
| 2 |  | WS | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 | 18 |
| 3 |  | BU | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 13 |
| 4 |  | ES | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 12 |
| 5 |  | BO | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
| 6 |  | MN | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 10 |
| 7 |  | AU | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
| 8 |  | TC | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 19 | 6 |
| 9 |  | MU | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 3 |
| 10 |  | WR | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 2 |
| 11 |  | EB | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 2 |
| 12 |  | HW | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 2 |
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