NFPL Matchweek 7 Review

by NFPL

Matchweek 7 in the NFPL featured just one match as 3rd-placed Ginga FS made the trip from Cincinnati to Detroit to play Michigan Futsal Factory. A 5-4 win for Futsal Factory Academy saw them leap Ginga FS in the standings, having playing two fewer games than their immediate rivals in the table.

Futsal Factory Academy 5-4 Ginga FS

Futsal Factory Academy narrowly defeated Ginga FS 5-4 on Saturday, February 19th at High Velocity Sports Center after a thrilling back-and-forth game that ended with a winning goal with 7 seconds to play. 

Ginga FS would get the first big chances of the game, only to be denied in a one-on-one scenario by Futsal Factory Academy goalkeeper Robert Damron. Around the 13-minute mark, Futsal Factory Academy ala #6 Charlie Cobb tucked away a tidy finish after a nice spell of possession for the home side, and this goal opened the game up significantly.

The next two minutes of play were frantic, as the two teams combined to score four more goals. Ginga FS answered on a counterattack goal by #19 Erik Hegerty, which was quickly canceled out by a close-range rebound from #5 Ben Brummel. A mistake at the back by Brummel gifted #16 TJ Manning a goal for Ginga FS to tie it up. Just seconds after the resulting kickoff, a second goal by #5 Ben Brummel, assisted by Futsal Factory Academy captain Drew Ducker, gave Futsal Factory a 3-2 lead, and that score remained until the halftime break. 

The second half began much like the first, with goalies at both ends doing well to keep the ball out of their net. After 14 scoreless minutes in the second half, FFA pivo #16 Ahmed Zaky received the ball on the right wing and displayed some nice footskills to beat his man to the byline before finding the unmarked #9 Leo Abonizio to tuck home a big goal and what felt like, at the time, the nail in the coffin for Ginga FS. 

However, down 2-4, Ginga FS weren't ready to throw in the towel. They flew the goalkeeper and worked their way through the FFA defense to get Hegerty's second of the night from close range with just 3 minutes to go. After working the ball around the court swiftly, Ginga FS were able to open the FFA defense to score a 4th goal and tie it up! A pass from TJ Manning down the line to Jorge Guinovart, who's first touch found Ginga FS #9 Nick Rumisek unmarked at the back post. 

The drama wasn't done. Both teams went for the win, and two big saves from Robert Damron kept FFA in the game. With just 7 seconds to play, a rough challenge near midfield gave Futsal Factory Academy a penalty from accumulated fouls. At the game's dying breath, #16 Khal Suleiman stepped up and buried a PK into the top right corner to give Futsal Factory Academy all 3 points at home. 

THE NFPL RESUMES...

Catch all the action as Matchweek 8 brings us more great futsal: 

Friday, February 25:

Saturday, February 26:

  • Futsal Factory Academy play at home again to Futsal Indy, another team that are looking to right the ship and turn around their season. 
  • Ginga FS are in action again as they host Columbus Futsal in the Battle For Ohio. 

Stay tuned here and on our social platforms for our Matchweek 8 preview!