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[tab_item title=”Under 13 Boys”]
Brisbane Strikers FC (3) v Sunshine Coast FC (1)
Fire made the journey into Brisbane for the Round 21 clash against Brisbane Strikers, the season’s earlier encounter at Kawana ended in a dramatic 2 -2 draw.
Fire got the game underway and enjoyed the perfect start taking the lead with only 52 seconds on the clock. Dre Ngaha harrying the opposition defence and forcing the error, Mark Shaw first to the ball and his cross found Kaidin Dawson unmarked at the back post to coolly slot the ball home from 6 yards.
It was Strikers who controlled much of the possession and had opportunities to get back on level terms. In the 5th minute a free kick on the angle of the Fire penalty area was allowed to find its way to the back post where Fire gladly saw the Strikers player send his effort the wrong side of the post. Again, in the 9th minute Strikers must have wondered how they hadn’t equalised, an attacking right-wing cross bobbled across the Fire area before being scooped over the bar when a goal looked odds on.
The equaliser did eventually come for the hosts in the 12th minute. With players from both sides stopping for what they all thought was a throw in. Amid the confusion Strikers played on and knocked the ball down their right touchline and past the Fire back line where their forward comfortably knocked the ball home to level the game at 1-1.
As ever though, Fire’s greatest strength is their lighting counter attacking play and the 15th minute saw another example. Herbie Allsopp played the ball into Ngaha who laid the ball into the path of Dawson, his low cross just behind Shaw who was still able to lay the ball off the Jett Brutnell, his effort just over.
Strikers looked the more comfortable team in possession and Fire needed to work hard off the ball to restrict meaningful opening to a minimum, thanks largely to the battling performances of Tanner Mathers and Lachie Noyes in midfield and the backline of Renzulli, Tappouras, Allsopp and Ridely.
Fire then had a period of ascendency, the 23rd minute saw Shaw earn Fire a corner after some great work from Noyes, Tappouras seeing a looping header go just over, Shaw and Ngaha then played a 1:2 with Shaw’s cross hacked clear to Renzulli who then sent in a peach of cross towards Dawson who shot on the turn was whisker too high.
Shaw then forced another Fire corner in the 26th minute after the front three combined well once again, the keeper this time making a decent save, another Shaw jinxing run into the Strikers area lad another Fire corner in the 28th minute and Fire pressed hard for their second.
As Strikers cleared their lines it was they who then took the lead with a quick break of their own, clear of the Fire defence the Strikers player made no mistake and in the 29th minute the visitors unfortunately found themselves 2-1 down.
Not to be deterred, Fire again pressed Brutnell forcing an error and winning a corner in the 33rd minute, from the short set piece Brutnell crashed in a fierce drive that needed a good stop by the keeper and again as half time loomed, Brutnell forced the keeper to make another save.
Half Time: Brisbane Strikers FC (2) v Sunshine Coast FC (1)
Strikers got the game back underway and the first opportunity fell to Fire. The 39th minute saw, Ngaha and Brutnell all linking well to create a golden opportunity for Dawson who will still be wondering how he didn’t score, the keeper scrambling across his line to save at point-blank range and keep his side in front.
Strikers then had the games next chance, hitting the post in the 43rd minute, collecting the rebound, Striker had another crack at the Fire goal, a second effort clipping the bar on its way over the top. Fire were playing with good cohesion during the second half, stringing passes together and looking a little more comfortable in possession but it took until the 54th minute for Ngaha to have Fire’s next effort seeing his effort from the edge of the Strikers area drift wide. A minute later, Shaw found himself through 1 on 1 with keeper, his pace giving him a yard on the last man but again the keeper saved well.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Strikers had a couple of further half chances, Green out well to force Striker to sheet wide in the 61st minute and in the 62nd minute the home side somehow managed to send an effort over the bar when it looked easier to score. Another good move from the hosts saw a lovely diagonal ball behind the Fire right back, the pull back and subsequent shot narrowly missing Greens far post.
Strikers sealed the point in the 69th minute from a corner, with a bouncing ball loose in the Fire area the Strikers player executed a magnificent overhead kick to give Green no chance and make the game safe.
Many positives again from Fire, some often scintillating approach play in evidence again and unquestioned determination from the boys, but the recurring theme of what if’s and missed chances coming back to sting them at the end.
Full Time: Brisbane Strikers FC (3) v Sunshine Coast FC (1)
Player of the Match: Herbie Allsopp
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[tab_item title=”Under 14 Boys”]
Brisbane Strikers FC (0) v Sunshine Coast FC (2)
Round 21 and Fire travelled to Perry Park for what seemed like the impossible. The last meeting with Brisbane Strikers this season was the first time Fire fielded a full team without injury. This wasn’t to be the case this time. Back to a high injury list Fire were only just able to field the bare eleven with approval for two U13s to cover the bench.
Sunshine Coast FC came out ready to fight, with a couple of near misses to get on the board early in the game Fire had to settle and regroup, placing pressure on Brisbane Strikers at every opportunity. Keeper Ben Nassiep proved why he has been selected as one of the Queensland Keepers with a quality save from a Brisbane Strikers FC free kick. This was immediately followed by another save off a corner.
With the ball in Fire’s possession Josh Kacperski drove the ball up the right wing to be pushed into the corner by the Brisbane Strikers defence. Kacperski managed to get the ball out for Matthew Becker to take control and score on the 29th minute.
Half Time: Brisbane Strikers FC (0) v Sunshine Coast FC (1)
The second half Brisbane Strikers FC looked to equalise. With Sunshine Coast FC shutting down their opportunity to play and drive forward, Brisbane Strikers FC looked to break the line of the Sunshine Coast FC defence. Dimtiri Pritchard-Westwood, Riley Visona, Jack Connors and Lucas Kljajcin held strong in defence as keeper Nassiep protected the goals.
On the 57th minute Sunshine Coast FC cemented their win when Tyler Loveridge delivered the ball through to Kyan Bryant. Bryant took the ball up the left and out-skilled Brisbane Strikers FC with a ‘Maradona’ to take the ball to goal and score.
Full Time: Brisbane Strikers FC (0) v Sunshine Coast FC (2)
Player of the Match: Ben Nassiep
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[tab_item title=”Under 15 Boys”]
Brisbane Strikers FC (1) v Sunshine Coast FC (5)
The U15 Sunshine Coast Boys played Brisbane Strikers on Sunday 5th August 2018 at Perry Park. It was a hot sunny day and they kicked off at 10:30am. This was Round 21 and this was the second time these two teams had played each other. Strikers won the previous match.
It was a slow start for the Fire team. Strikers had a free kick in the 11th minute that was in range for a shot on goal. This was a good shot but collected nicely by Fire’s impressive keeper Gillett.
With Fire still finding their momentum Gillett was kept busy in goals making several saves.
It was in the 31st minute that Strikers would take the lead from a penalty kick.
The team had a few opportunities on goal throughout the remainder of the first half but were unsuccessful in their attack.
Half Time: Brisbane Strikers FC (1) v Sunshine Coast FC (0)
The second half was filled with action. Fire came out with drive and determination.
In the 48th minute fast paced Emery drove down the side line and crossed it in for Nelson. Nelson scored making it a draw 1-1.
Nelson scored again in the 52nd minute when Williams put a brilliant ball through to him.
Fire did not slow down. In the 66th minute Emery drove through multiple Striker defenders to score their third goal.
In the 69th minute Strikers give away a penalty. There was no stopping a ball from Halls-Tempest who has never missed a penalty. Fire upped the score to 4-1.
The last goal for the game was scored by Nelson in the 80th minute, an impressive hat trick for the Striker today.
Full Time: Brisbane Strikers FC (1) v Sunshine Coast FC (5)
Player of the Match: Jack Williams
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