Hyundai Queensland State League – Grand Final
Brisbane Strikers v Sunshine Coast Fire
Under-19 Sunshine Coast Fire v Queensland Academy of Sport
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Perry Park, Albion
On Saturday evening, fans will be treated to the showpiece HQSL Grand Final that most have predicted all season, when the Sunshine Coast Fire and Brisbane Strikers do battle at Perry Park.
The Brisbane Strikers earned hosting rights for the clash with their extra-time victory over the Fire in the Major Semi Final, forcing the Sunshine Coast to earn qualification the hard way by contesting a Preliminary Final with the North Queensland Razorbacks.
The Fire withstood a serious scare from the Razorbacks, eventually prevailing 3-1 in extra-time on a waterlogged pitch in Kawana to book another meeting with old foes Brisbane.
Thus far this season, the results show that there is little difference between the two sides. From four fixtures, each side has claimed two victories, and all matches have been decided by a single goal.
The fact that Brisbane has won the last two matches between the sides is likely a concern for Fire coach Aston Bell, with the often free-scoring Fire only finding the net once in the two encounters.
Although much of the focus of the Strikers team is on their steely midfield and useful strike partnership of Matt Thurtell and Sean Burke, finding a way to pierce their effective defensive line will be high on the Fire’s training agenda this week.
With the absence of Yuta Gonai from the Fire’s midfield, one of the team’s youthful contingent will likely be called upon to fill the gap, and will need to work effectively with the more experienced players if the Fire are to overturn the Major Semi-Final result.
To date, the 2010 finals campaign of the Fire boasts many similarities with the team’s triumph in the 2008 series. In the inaugural year, the Fire were defeated by the Strikers in the Major Semi-Final before bouncing back with a win over the North Queensland Razorbacks in the Preliminary Final.
A 1-0 victory at Perry Park in the Grand Final secured a Premiership/Championship double for the Fire, a feat that the club will be no doubt desperate to emulate come Saturday.
Entry is free for the QSL Grand Final, with the match kick-off set for 7pm at Perry Park in Albion. At 4.45pm, the Fire’s Under-19 side will be looking to back up their strong showing in the Major Semi-Final when they battle the Queensland Academy of Sport for the Championship.
The Fire have recovered from injury woes in the second half of the season with a succession of positive victories. After seeing off South West Queensland and the Bundaberg Spirit in the final season fixtures, the Fire produced a shock by downing the table-topping Brisbane Strikers in the Major Semi Final. The Strikers were subsequently eliminated by QAS in the Preliminary Final, when the Brisbane side went down 4-3 in an extra-time thriller.
QAS finished the season in third place, four points adrift of the Fire who finished second. When the sides last met in Round 16, a depleted Sunshine Coast outfit were on the receiving end of a 6-1 scoreline, after being reduced to 10 men early in the first half.
The Under-19 Fire will head into the Grand Final with a strong squad and riding a wave of confidence, but will be wary of the potent QAS outfit that did such damage in Round 16.
