NFPL Matchweek 14 Review

by NFPL

The National Futsal Premier League 2021/22 regular season wrapped up this weekend with four games played across the Midwest to determine final seedings for playoffs. Futsal Factory Academy had a big two-win weekend, while Columbus ensured home-court advantage in the playoffs and Joy Athletic extended their league-best winning streak to 9 games in row.

Ginga FS 3-7 Futsal Factory Academy

Needing one win from two games this weekend and with a home game against last-placed Cadence SFC the following day, it would have been easy for Futsal Factory Academy to let their first game of the weekend slip. Road trips are never easy in the NFPL and heading down to Cincinnati to take on 5th-placed Ginga FS would prove a difficult task, but FFA were up for it. 

Ginga FS would start the stronger of the two sides, with Jorge Guinovart opening the scoring after 5 minutes. In the 9th minute, goals by #16 TJ Manning for Ginga FS and #10 Miki Djerisilo for Futsal Factory Academy immediately canceled each other out. A second goal from Djerisilo would tie the game at 2-2 with about 5 minutes to play in the first half. #14 Abdisa Kabeto gave FFA the lead going into halftime with an unassisted goal with just 2 minutes left on the clock.

Halftime allowed the teams to regroup and again it was Ginga FS that would strike first, with Manning scoring his second of the night on an unassisted goal. That would be the end of it for the home side, as #17 Caio Mazzo responded immediately for Futsal Factory Academy to restore the 1-goal cushion. Within 4 minutes, FFA had tripled their lead to go up 6-3 behind goals from #5 Lucas Henrique and #14 Abdisa Kabeto. #8 Ben Pritchard would add his only goal of the night to go along with his two assists to make the game 7-3 after 34 minutes. From there, Futsal Factory Academy were able to see it out, clinching their 3rd-placed finish in the regular season and ensuring at least one home game in the playoffs.

Futsal Factory Academy face 6th-placed Futsal Indy at home in the playoffs this weekend, while Ginga FS hit the road to play Columbus Futsal in the Battle for Ohio Part III: Playoff Edition. 

Columbus Futsal 14-3 Cadence SFC

Traveling with a short sub bench is a severe handicap in the NFPL as deeper teams can wear you down. This proved the case as Columbus Futsal ran away as 14-3 winners over Cadence SFC. A 6-0 halftime score in favor of the home side delighted the Columbus fans, as Remy banged in 3 and Illidge, Kayalar, and Belasri each scored 1. 

By the end of the game, Remy had a 4th while Belasri had a second. Musoni got on the board with 2, while Barbosa, Rodriguez, Boggs, and Snavely each scored a goal.

Columbus Futsal face Ginga FS in the first round of the playoffs this weekend in Columbus. 

Joy Athletic 16-7 Futsal Indy

Futsal Indy traveled to Minnesota to take on Joy Athletic in a game that ultimately wouldn't do much for either team regarding their playoff seeding. With a halftime score of 9-3 in favor of Joy Athletic, the game was well and done, although it got as close as 11-6 in the second half. Guarin, Duran, Nair, Kouame, and Paulin were all on the scoresheet as Joy were able to close out their season in style, ending with 30 points and an impressive 9-game winning streak. They are also the only team to take points off Grand Rapids this season.

Joy Athletic will face Cadence SFC in the first round of the playoffs this weekend. 

Futsal Factory Academy 20-5 Cadence SFC

Cadence SFC made the trip up to southeast Michigan to take on Futsal Factory Academy in a last-place versus 3rd-place matchup. Futsal Factory Academy had locked in their 3rd-place regular-season finish the previous night in Cincinnati. Cadence SFC traveled with no bench players, a recipe for disaster, and Futsal Factory obligingly put them to the sword, racking up a league record for most goals scored in a game this season. 

Nearly everybody got on the scoreboard for Futsal Factory, although Ben Pritchard stood out with 1 goal and 3 assists. Damron, Sherman, Stoner, Suleiman, Flowers, Clifford, Woodruff, Palafox, and Caldwell all scored for the home team as Futsal Factory Academy closed out their season with a 2-win weekend.

Futsal Factory Academy will take on Futsal Indy at home in the first round of the 2022 NFPL Playoffs.

A LOOK AT THE Final Regular Season Table...

THE NFPL RESUMES...

The 2022 NFPL Playoffs begin this weekend with a triple-header on Saturday night!

Saturday, April 16th

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