Day one of the 2025 National Futsal Championships in Melbourne is in the books, and what a spectacular day of futsal those in attendance were treated to.
The State Netball and Hockey Centre was buzzing from the moment the gates were opened at 7:30am, with over 3,000 players, family members and fans in attendance across the day cheering on the best players from around the country.
While the first game of the tournament kicked-off at 8am, play was halted at 11am for the official opening ceremony of NFC25 on pitch one, with representatives from Football Australia and Football Victoria saying a few words following a stirring Acknowledgment of Country.
Let's get stuck into some of the Victorian performances from across the day.
The U13 Boys Navy team started their campaign in style with a commanding 8-0 win over South Australia. Joseph Colak stole the spotlight with a hat-trick, while Daichi Nakada contributed two goals to the impressive tally. In contrast, the U13 Boys White team faced a challenging match, suffering a heavy 14-0 defeat to a dominant NSW Lightning side.
The U13 Girls White put up a spirited fight but narrowly lost 2-0 against Football West. Meanwhile, the U13 Girls Navy secured a thrilling 4-3 victory over Northern NSW, with Sophie McCaffrey leading the charge by scoring twice.
In the U15 Boys division, Victoria faced a tough opponent in Football West and fell 6-1 in the early morning game. The U15 Girls also had a challenging outing, losing 5-0 to Football NSW Thunder.
The U16 Boys staged an incredible comeback from 4-1 down to draw 5-5 with South Australia, led by Walid Ahmedin's hat-trick and captain Osgar Bryant's three assists and a goal. The U17 Girls impressed with a dominant 5-1 win over South Australia, with Stephanie Vonja netting two goals in a standout performance.
In the senior categories, the Open Men Tigers fought valiantly in a high-energy match but were defeated 4-2 by Football West. Corey Sewell was a standout for Victoria, scoring both of their goals. The Open Men Blues earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Football Queensland in a tightly contested encounter. The Open Men Navy faced a tough task against Football NSW Thunder, ultimately losing 7-1.
The Youth Men were still in action against Football West late in the day, with the result to be confirmed.
The Open Navy Women had reason to celebrate, defeating Northern NSW Open Women 3-1. Alana Burn, Mary Hubeek, and Claudia Dimasi each found the back of the net in a commanding team performance.
The Open Women White showed resilience in their match against Football Queensland White, coming back from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw.
In the All-Abilities division, the AWD team had a bye on day one but is set to return to action in Round 2.
Victorian teams will return to action tomorrow, eager to build on their strong performances and make their mark in the competition. With plenty of matches still to come, the excitement is just beginning at the 2025 National Futsal Championships.