Exciting night of futsal goes into extra time

UNDER-16 WINNERS: Tairawhiti under-16 futsal winners Ctrl, Alt, De Ligt are (from left) Zach Rolls, Cory Thomson, Corban Norris, Piran Payne, Luke Stoltenberg and Dylan Foster. Absent: Tre McCrae-Marino. Picture by Renae Lolohea

A last-minute equaliser took the men’s final of the Central Football Tairawhiti Futsal competition into extra time.

In the last game of the night, United and Thistle Youth battled it out for supremacy in Gisborne futsal.

Thistle Youth played a fast-paced possession game and led for most of the match, while United came with a more physical and direct approach.

United kept within reach due in part to fantastic saves from goalkeepers Josh Harris and Josh Adams. United’s patience was rewarded seconds before the final whistle, when they equalised to send the game into extra time.

Thistle Youth controlled the action for the majority of the 10 extra minutes, but United went ahead with a goal in the last minute.

Desperately searching for an equaliser, the young Jags left themselves exposed at the back and United scored to win a scintillating final 10-8.

The finals, held in the Gisborne Girls’ High School gymnasium, began with the under-16 competition final between Figjam and Ctrl, Alt, De Ligt.

Figjam, who were mostly a year younger than their opponents, struggled to gain traction early as Ctrl, Alt, De Ligt raced to a healthy halftime lead.

Figjam got into the game more in the second half but the quality and experience of Ctrl, Alt, De Ligt proved too much as they put the game to bed to win 9-4.

Next up were Bitsa and Bohos in a game to decide the queen bees of the social competition.

These teams had beaten each other in pool play, and the final was close.

Little separated the teams in a see-saw affair that ended with Bohos edging it 5-4.