NFPL Matchweek 6 Review

Matchweek 6 is done and dusted, and what a doozy it was. One game Friday night, three on Saturday, and one on Super Bowl Sunday to round things off gave spectators 63 goals! Catch all the details in our review below.

GINGA FS 7-8 JOY ATHLETIC

Friday night featured in-form Joy Athletic on the road in Cincinnati to face Ginga FS in a Matchweek 5 rematch. Joy Athletic were clearly the superior team on home turf, and while this game was significantly closer, they still took all three points back to Minnesota.

A cagey start to the match was characterized by safe play from both sides, with neither team willing to open things up too much. However, after the first Joy Athetic goal, the game exploded into life. A quick equalizer from Ginga FS pivo Jorge Guinovart would tie the game at 1 goal apiece. Soon enough it was 2-2, with Jorge converting for his second of the night.

Joy would then score three unanswered goals to make the score 5-2, and no doubt both teams were wondering if this would go the same way that the first match would. However, Ginga wouldn't give up, despite a demoralizing injury to Erik Hegerty that saw him sit the remainder of the game. Nick Rumisek came alive and assisted Derek Smith for a goal before scoring another one for himself, and a minute later Jorge Guinovart got his hat trick to tie the game 5-5 going into halftime.

The second half started much like the first, with the opening 10 minutes provided no goals for either side. A goal from Smith saw Ginga take the lead for the first time that night, but two quick unanswered goals flipped the scores to give Joy the lead, 7-6 with only a few minutes left to play. A Jorge Guinovart free kick tied the match at 7-7 with two minutes left, and it seemed the two teams were destined for a draw before a gut-wrenching final goal from Joy Athletic in the last 10 seconds of the game stole the points for the visitors.  

Futsal Indy 1-15 Grand Rapids OLé

Not for the first time this season, Grand Rapids OLé strolled into another team's court and played them off it. In an absolutely dominant display, OLé defeated Futsal Indy in Indianapolis by a score of 15-1. 

Futsal Indy were missing a number of key players and starters, but the Grand Rapids club showed them no mercy and left no doubt with the scoreline. OLé have been almost unstoppable this season with little difference in form based on where, when, or who they're playing. 

Columbus Futsal 3-4 Joy Athletic

Joy Athletic came from behind to spoil a sold-out home opener for Columbus Futsal. Yul Illidge continued his goal-scoring streak as the first one to find the back of the new in the new Columbus Futsal facility at Westwood Fieldhouse. This was followed by Pau Piang's first goal for the club, and a free kick from Juliano Castilhos to make it 3-1 to the home team.

However, Joy Athletic would not be denied, scoring two second half goals to tie the game and create a nervy ending for both teams. Despite a standout performance with over 20 blocks, Columbus goleiro Victor Barbosa couldn't keep out Dimitri Nair's last-minute winner which robbed Columbus of their first victory of the season. 

GINGA FS 10-7 Cadence SFC

In their second game of the weekend, Ginga FS and Cadence SFC fought a nail-biter from the first whistle to the final whistle. It was our first time getting a look at Cadence SFC this season, and they fielded a young squad that played above their years and acquitted themselves very well.

With a strong opening half, Cadence took a 4-3 lead into halftime in Cincinnati. Quickly after halftime they were able to build on their lead to go up 6-3. The Ginga players dug deep and Jorge Guinovart took over the game, scoring three vital goals in quick succession to bring his tally to five on the night, on top of his four goals against Joy on Friday, earning him NFPL Player of the Week honors.

Those three goals absolutely stole the confidence from the young Cadence squad and in the final few minutes of the game, Jay Klein, Nick Rumisek, and Satoru Matsushima would each score goals for Ginga FS to give them the win 10-7.

Futsal Factory Academy 5-3 Columbus Futsal

Futsal Factory Academy got their second home win this past weekend over Columbus Futsal which leaves them winless on the bottom of the standings. A back-and-forth opening half ended with FFA in the lead 2-1 behind another excellent display from the Columbus goleiro.

After halftime adjustments, Futsal Factory were able to stretch the game and force Columbus to chase, breaking them down to grab a few more crucial goals for the victory. For Futsal Factory Academy, Debutant Kyle Stoner made his first NFPL appearance, while Ben Pritchard was on the scoresheet again. Veterans Miki Djerisilo and goalkeeper Robert Damron led the team with assured displays to keep Futsal Factory in the hunt. 

THE NFPL RESUMES...

Catch all the action as Matchweek 7 brings us more great futsal:  

Saturday, February 19:

Ginga FS head up I-75 to take on Futsal Factory Academy at High Velocity Sports in Michigan. It will be their first meeting this season and a matchup between 3rd and 4th place. Stay tuned here and on our social platforms for our Matchweek 7 preview!