The FFA Futsal Nationals have just concluded. Once again, NSW has dominated the finals with their NSW Thunder and NSW Lightning teams in most age groups / divisions of the competition.
Now this is not new in recent years and nor does it mean that our ACT teams did not give a good account of themselves. Its just that NSW has become so powerful.
In some age groups / divisions our ACT teams came very close / or won a game against them in the rounds. We challenged in some finals. Usually, its slim pickings against NSW these days in the games that count.
Getting to the semi finals is the first objective and then of course, to the final and winning it. It is in this "finals" zone that the NSW teams excel.
Anyway, there was lots of good Futsal to see, particulary at the junior and youth age groups.
Our Open Women's team came as close as it is possible without winning. Our Youth Men's team let it slip through their fingers - but they were a real chance! Our U11 Boys Cobras team produced some of the best Futsal I have seen from an ACT team in years, but sadly, could not quite replicate their competition form in the final.
Here is how the overall resutls look:
- Total Number of Finals Contested: 17
- ACT teams in Finals: 6 ( 1x Boys, 2 x Girls, 2 x Youth, 1 x Open Women)
- ACT teams win Finals: Nil
- NSW teams in Finals: 19 (4 x Boys - U15 & U16 both teams), All Girls - U16G both teams, All Youth, All Open)
- NSW teams win Finals: 15 (all Girls' finals, all Youth, all Open)
- Other State / Nation team winners of Finals: 2 (U11B - Auckland, U13B - Victoria)
The specific Age / Division Finals winners are as follows:
- 11-BOYS: Auckland Rio 4 ACT Cobras 2
- 11-GIRLS: NSW Thunder 4 Victoria 2
- 12-BOYS: NSW Thunder 4 NSW Lightning 3
- 12-GIRLS: NSW Thunder 7 Victoria 2
- 13-BOYS: Victoria 2 Solomon Islands 1
- 13-GIRLS: NSW Thunder 3 ACT Cobras 0
- 14-BOYS: NSW Thunder 8 Victoria 1
- 14-GIRLS: NSW Thunder 6 ACT Cobras 2
- 15-BOYS: NSW Thunder 6 NSW Lightning 2
- 15-GIRLS: NSW Thunder 3 Queensland 1
- 16-BOYS: NSW Lightning 2 NSW Thunder 0
- 16-GIRLS: NSW Lightning 2 NSW Thunder 0
- ATHLETES WITH DISABILITY: Southern NSW 6 NSW Lightning 1
- YOUTH MEN: NSW Thunder 2 ACT Cobras 1
- YOUTH WOMEN: NSW Thunder 2 ACT Cobras 0
- OPEN MEN: NSW Thunder 2 Victoria 2 – Thunder win 3-2 on penalties
- OPEN WOMEN: NSW Thunder 1 ACT Cobras 0