NFPL Matchweek 13 Review

by NFPL

As it has frequently been the case this season in the NFPL, the home teams dominated in Matchweek 13, scoring a combined 29 goals over 3 games and only conceding 6 in that same span. Traveling teams have continued to struggle this season and that bodes well for those teams that have earned home-court advantage in the playoffs. 

Our round-up of the weekend's action begins in Ohio...

COLUMBUS FUTSAL 6-1 FUTSAL FACTORY ACADEMY

A 6-1 victory for Columbus Futsal over Futsal Factory Academy has propelled the Ohio futsal club into 4th place in the NFPL standings. Futsal Factory Academy, once putting pressure on the teams at the top, have now lost 3 in a row.

Similar to their previous games, Futsal Factory Academy started sluggishly and left themselves with a mountain to climb by the halftime break. #17 Nemanja Jandric opened the scoring for Columbus after just 25 seconds of play to take an early 1-0 lead. #8 Sydney Musoni would double their lead after playing a clever give-and-go with #25 Dave Blamo before poking home from close range. #33 Zak Boggs added a 3rd with 11:14 still to play in the first half as the home fans voiced their support for their squad. 

#8 Khal Suleiman would pull one back for the visitors with 2:17 to play before the half, but any thoughts of a comeback were squashed moments later as Boggs added his second of the game with 1:44 left in the half. Columbus went into the break with a 4-1 lead. 

Futsal Factory huffed and they puffed in the second half, but despite a strong effort they couldn't break down the home team. A second goal from #8 Musoni with under 14 to play put any hopes of a comeback to bed. A from Columbus goalkeeper Gabriel Oliveria made the score 6-1 and put a cherry on top of a fantastic night between the posts for the young GK. 

Columbus Futsal are back in action for Matchweek 14 as they host Cadence SFC on Friday, April 8th, at 7:00PM EST. Futsal Factory Academy are on the road once again as they head to Cincinnati to take on Ginga FS on Friday the 8th at 7:00PM. They'll play a second game of a weekend double-header and wrap up their season at home on Sunday, April 9th, at 7:00PM against Cadence SFC. 

FUTSAL INDY 12-3 CADENCE SFC

After a dismal 7-1 loss to Cadence SFC in Matchweek 12, Futsal Indy welcomed Cadence SFC to Indianapolis with revenge on their mind. They would get what they wanted with a 12-3 victory in front of their home fans, pushing Futsal Indy up to 6th in the standings. 

A scoreless opening 12 minutes was eventually broken by a goal from Futsal Indy's #10 Pedro Lube-Vallardo. A quick give-and-go with #2 Josh Rosario resulted in a loft over the Cadence goalkeeper's head. It would be his first of many for #10 Lube-Vallardo in a huge performance that pushed his side to all 3 points. A misplaced pass from the Futsal Indy goalkeeper gifted Cadence SFC's #12 Gui Nunes with a goal just minutes later, but Indy would go into halftime break with a 3-1 lead. Lube-Vallardo scored a tap-in after a give-and-go with #4 Joao Cuoto, and then Lube-Vallardo became the facilitator for their 3rd goal of the half with just a minute left on the clock as #4 Cuoto slotted home from close range.

Despite an early fight back, it would not be enough for the visitors. A goal at the back post by #3 Luis Soriano gave Indy a 3 goal cushion. #12 Nunes would score on another open net to bring the game back to 4-2. 

Just after the 14-minute mark, #4 Cuoto pounced on a loose ball and lashed it home to restore the 3-goal lead for the home side. The 3-goal lead was short lived: a brilliant bit of play between #12 Nunes and #5 Matthew Maciulis led to a sliding finish at the back post for Maciulis. At 5-3, Cadence SFC still had a chance, but a goal just 7 seconds later for #3 Soriano's second of the night seemed to be a backbreaker for the visitors. Futsal Indy would then score 6 more unanswered goals. 

#4 Cuoto scored his 3rd of the night from close range with just under 9 minutes to play after Futsal Indy sliced open the Cadence SFC defense. A well-rehearsed set piece routine with 5:42 to play gave Lube-Vallardo his 3rd of the night for the home team. Half a minute later he was scoring on an empty net from his own half as Cadence SFC flew the keeper. #3 Soriano got his hat trick on an empty net as the Futsal Indy fast break destroyed Cadence SFC. Lube-Vallardo scored his 5th from long range after a misplaced pass, and then his 6th with just :13 on the clock.

All in all, a crucial response and decisive home win for Futsal Indy. They have a bye week, while Cadence SFC face two rough games in Matchweek 14 against Columbus Futsal and Futsal Factory Academy.

Grand Rapids OLé 11-2 CADENCE SFC

Following their tough loss on the road to Futsal Indy, Cadence SFC faced the unenviable task of a road game in Grand Rapids against the league leaders. A win for Grand Rapids OLé would clinch their regular-season championship and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. 

With just one sub on the bench, Cadence SFC would need a miracle to get anything from this game. A strong first-half from the visitors wouldn't be enough as a second-half onslaught from OLé provided them with all 3 points and their well-earned regular season NFPL championship. 

#4 Daniel Diaz opened the scoring for OLé after 8 minutes and OLé GK Miguel Cervantes added two more before halftime to make the score 3-0 in favor of the home side. #8 Cole Russell would open the scoring in the second half after just 2 minutes, and he would have two more before the end of the night for a game-high 3 goals. He added two assists as OLé spread the scoring around, with goals coming from #6 Jeo Garcia, #9 Adrian Diaz, #77 Hunter Barone, and #10 Cesar Alayo. 

Cadence SFC would add two goals courtesy of #2 Matthew Maciulis and #13 Juan Aguilar. Cadence head to Ohio and Michigan to take on Columbus Futsal and Futsal Factory Academy in Matchweek 14, while Grand Rapids OLé rest on their regular season championship until the playoffs. 

A LOOK AT THE CURRENT LEAGUE TABLE...


THE NFPL RESUMES...

Matchweek 14 gives us three games and a Friday night double-header for futsal fans around the Midwest!

Friday, April 8th

Saturday, April 9th

Follow along and stay tuned here and on the National Futsal Premier League social platforms for our Matchweek 14 preview and more!