The Gold Fields Men’s State U19s came up short as a hat-trick from Ethan De Melo helped Football NSW Metro Thunder win the FFA National Futsal Championships grand final 4-0 at AIS Training Halls, Canberra.
The two sides had met in the fourth round of the Championships where Thunder had claimed a narrow 1-0 victory, and they were heavy favourites to make it two from two.
Futsalroo De Melo, 17, gave Thunder the perfect start when he struck from a tight angle inside three minutes.
De Melo scored his second shortly after when he won the ball in midfield, cut back onto his right and slid a shot between the legs of WA keeper Nikita Tcherkashnev, giving NSW a 2-0 lead.
The Black Swans slowly settled into the match and the contest became an arm wrestle for territory and possession.
But NSW soon extended their lead, as Rhys Buick carried the ball beyond halfway and struck a nice shot into the bottom corner, before De Melo secured his hat-trick in the 19th minute.
Michael Lino had WA’s best chance but snatched at the opportunity.
The second half was a very even encounter as the Black Swans grew in confidence but despite their best efforts, the Thunder’s defence would not be breached. The NSW team did not concede throught the Championships.
As the clock ticked into the 32nd minute of the match, WA went with a fifth man and no keeper but with no avail. After WA coach Victor Brauner called a tactical timeout with just six minutes left, the Black Swans still could not find their way on the scoresheet as Thunder held on for 4-0 win and claimed the U19 Men’s Championship.
No surprise that the Most Valuable Player award went to De Melo.
Result
Football NSW Metro Thunder 4 (Ethan De Melo 3min, 7, 19, Buik 18)
Football West Black Swans 0
Filed Under: National Futsal Championship