Futsal National Titles kick off with a Victorian win

Matilda's Keeper Melissa Barbieri is playing for Victoria in her first National Futsal Championships this week in Canberra.

More comment and photo's from the opening night below.


Victoria's Open Men's side kicked off the tournament with a pulsating 3-2 win over crowd favourites Solomon Islands.

Victoria raced to a 3-0 win in the opening match of the National Futsal Championships tonight in Canberra, but they despite the start they were in for a fright.

A send-off, early goals, and a great comeback from the Solomons left the Victorians hanging on 3-2 and suggests the Futsal Championships will once again be a great success.

The crowd booed the Victorian keeper as he threw the ball into the corner to waste precious time near the end, making sure the exciting Islanders, who may go to their first World Cup later this year in Rio, were defeated.....just.

Futsal talk was everywhere:
NSW Thunder are favourites in the men's league, Matildas stars Lisa De Vanna and Melissa Barbieri are certain starters for their States. Talk of a Futsal Club Asian Champions League and of course kids, boys and girls all set to do their best for their teams and States or Countries this week. Even A-League players possibly getting to play for the Futsalroos in the 2008 Asian Cup in May.

National Coach Scott Gilligan is looking to select his team for the KL5's in March. Senator Kate Lundy and Gary Humphries and a host of Futsalroo stars watched the opening ceremony and first game.

Should be a great week.

NSW Captain and Futsalroo Simon Keith with Futsalroo Coach and Legend Scott Gilligan

Men's Favourites: NSW Thunder. Will they win?

Vanh Mathongsy, Coach of ACT Cobras. "We've trained very hard for three months. I think we can do well."