Jess Au scores silver at World Futsal Championships

Despite an excruciatingly close grand final loss, Monash University fourth year medicine student Jessica Au has a lot to celebrate after returning from the World Futsal Championships with a silver medal.

The East Coast Eagles, Jess’s team from Port Macquarie, were defeated in a penalty shootout by the Florida home team in the final of the World Championships held late last month in Orlando.

The young squad of 16 to 26 year olds were the best performing Australian side across any division, and the only Australian team to make a final.

After winning the first match of the competition 7-0, Jess said the Eagles were feeling somewhat confident, but the team’s tactics had to change drastically after other coaches began catching on to the Aussie’s strategies. 

“They would record our game and realise what our formations were… They had broken down our entire tactics, they’d even subtitled our videos, like ‘this player will go there, that one will go there’,” she said.

“We had to do the same back to them. Everyone does it so it makes it hard when you play each other… because you’ve figured out a counter to everything.”

“It’s such mind games, it does get difficult to constantly mix it up.”

The Eagles had to adapt by changing the meanings of certain signals to trick the other teams. Fortunately, they had also reserved some set-plays until the semi-final, and were able to qualify for the grand final after scoring in the last two minutes of the match to win 3-2, with Jess scoring the first two goals of the game. 

The Aussies went on to face home team Tampa Bay Futsal Club in the final, in front of a passionate Florida crowd. Tampa Bay were in the lead after scoring in the first half, but the Eagles levelled the scores in the second, bringing the game to a tie breaker.

Despite Jess sinking her penalty shot, the Aussies were not able to get over the line.

“We were so close, it still haunts me! Everyone always says a penalty shootout is the worst way to lose, because it’s just luck. It’s determined by who is the least nervous at that point in time,” she said.

“And when you’ve got them screaming, and you’ve got to take your kick…”

It was the first loss the East Coast Eagles had suffered in over two years.

Jess said the local team were propelled by the support from the home crowd, but it was a good experience for the Eagles, who are hoping to return to the competition next year to take out the gold.

The squad prepared for 2019 World Championships by playing practice matches against the East Coast Eagles men’s team.

“When you play against the men and they’ve got such long legs, and they’re just so quick and strong, they just throw you off the ball. So you have to play a lot quicker… You’ve got to make your decisions before you get the ball,” she said.

“You need to know where you’re going, because as soon as you get it, you don’t have time to look up, which is what you learn when you play with the boys.”

Jess followed her brothers into the sport nine years ago at age 15. She signed a professional contract with Melbourne Victory in 2014 and represented the Australian Futsal Team last year, proving she has got what it takes on both the soccer pitch and the futsal court.

She is hoping to continue to represent Australia, and may even spend a year playing overseas after finishing her med degree.

Good luck Jess, we can't wait to hear what you get up to next!

Written by Nell O'Shea Carre, Media Coordinator.