NORTHERN Fusion has caused the first big upset of the Ballarat Futsal Centre’s maiden premier league season, stunning the early season favourites Southern Strikers in the game of the second round on Monday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bragging rights were on the line for Ballarat’s two most supported clubs, with over 1000 followers tuning in via Facebook for live updates of Fusion’s 7-3 drubbing of the Strikers.
Young gun Brian Te broke the early nill-all deadlock with a strong back-post finish and Fusion’s lead was subsequently doubled when Strikers player Brayden Baker scored an own goal soon after.
Strikers player-coach Michael Trigger pulled his team back into the contest via a thunderbolt into the top corner of the net, but Michael Lockyer quickly answered with an impressive strike of his own to give the young squad a 3-1 advantage at half-time.
Three Fusion goals to begin the second-half extinguished any chance of a Strikers comeback, although the fifth-man tactic yielded two-late goals to make a more respectable score line.
Fusion now sits on top of the ladder after progressing through the first two rounds undefeated, but the win was soured by a serious ankle injury to Te.
In other matches the Central Scorchers played out a thrilling 2-2 draw against Lucas Inter, while Eureka FC overcame an early 3-2 deficit to blow the Eastern City Razorbacks away in the second-half and record an 8-3 win.
RESULTS:
Central Scorchers 2 (S Gray, J Spirovski) drew with Lucas Inter 2 (TCameron, VCotronea)
Northern Fusion 7 (M Lockyer 2, P Angeli, R Harker, L Dawson, B Te (own goal) d Southern Strikers 3 (A Antonelli 2, MTrigger)
Eureka FC 8 (S Harding 3, W Georgiou 2, J Cartledge 2, JWilson-Brown) d Eastern City Razorbacks 3 (P McClounan 3)
michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au
