Futsal title race wide open

The NDTC Futsal Premier League title race is still wide open after Chile and Quality Futsal Clubs played out to a pulsating 2-2 draw in a top-of-the-log clash on Saturday.

In an explosive encounter of all-out action, Quality took the lead after four minutes when Chisloth Nunda blasted in a long-range strike that gave Chile’s goalie, Gheanen Rudolph no chance. Chile came storming back with incessant attacks as Celso Roberto equalized with a cracking free kick from the edge of the box.

Chile continued to attack with Roberto and Martin Humphries both hitting the post, while a Roberto cracker was well saved by Quality keeper Riya Usurua. 

Chile maintained the momentum after the break and went ahead for the first time through a great shot by Wesley Otto. They had more chances through Roberto and Otto, but Quality’s defense stood firm, and they grabbed a late equalizer when Sebastiao Borges rounded off a quick counterattack.

Chile pushed hard for the winner in the final stages, but shots by Roberto and Bornface Siyanga were blocked as the two sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.

The result leaves Chile at the top of the log on 50 points from 18 matches, with Quality just three points behind. Quality captain Eddy Solunga said:
“It was a very intense game, as we expected it to be, but I can say we were a bit unlucky. We got some chances that we couldn’t convert, and also some decisions that in the end affected the game,” he said.

“We are still three points behind Chile, but we still have a lot of games to play, so we’ll just keep on pushing and do what we can on our side.
“I can’t say that we’ll win the league; it will only depend on God, and maybe another team doing the job for us. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do so today, but we hope that there’s still a big chance that we can win this league,” he added.

Third-placed Windhoek Futsal Club remain in the title hunt after beating Flying V 4-2 to move up to 42 points, but Ballers’ title chances suffered a blow when they lost 7-3 to Ragazzi. That left them in fourth place on 33 points, and although they have two matches in hand on the leaders, they are now 17 points off the pace.

Fifth-placed EFG Patriots also suffered an upset defeat going down 3-1 to the Mavericks, which sees them remaining on 31 points.

In other results, XMen and Boston Madrid drew 3-3, Ineos beat WIAS 5-1, and JAC Motors beat 7 Kings 4-1.

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