Under 16 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (0) v Olympic FC (1)
Having played Olympic just last week in a hard fought 3-3 draw, this rescheduled game from earlier in the season promised to be another highly competitive game. A win today for the Fire would see them share the points with Olympic for the season after an away loss and a home draw previously.
The 10am kick off saw Olympic kick with the cool SW breeze at their backs. They immediately used the wind advantage to keep Fire deep in their own half and Fire had to defend a couple of early free kicks and consecutive corners. Olympic once again employed their high pressing style to effect and not allow Fire time on the ball. Olympic were also looking to get the ball deep into the Fire penalty box and test keeper and defence.
Both teams were also looking for the quick breaks to break open the other’s defence. Josh Wall from a clean catch from a corner released the ball early to set up a Fire break in the 8th minute. In the 10th minute Fire were caught by a long ball from a goal kick by Olympic but the attacker shot wide of the post passed the diving hand of Josh Wall.
Each team had their moments and in the 20th minute Josh Wall made a great save at the feet of an Olympic attacker after another Olympic player powered past the Fire defence to the backline and crossed a low hard ball into the box.
Olympic were building pressure on the Fire defence and Fire were increasingly required to defend deeper and scramble the ball away from danger more often.
In the 25th minute an Olympic attacker turned his defender and his low hard shot was pushed wide for another corner by the diving Josh Wall.
In the 29th minute Olympic were rewarded from yet another corner when Fire failed to close down the Olympic attacker at the top of the box and he managed to find the net through a cluster of bodies with his low strike. 1-0 to Olympic.
After half time Aiden Ward was introduced on the left, and as he had done the previous week, troubled the Olympic defence with his driving runs forward. Later in the half, the Olympic defender earned himself a Yellow Card as he man handled Aiden rugby-style as Aiden powered past him one more time.
Fire had the Olympic defence back peddling and were building pressure. Olympic tried to relieve pressure with long balls from defence. The game was see-sawing back and forth but neither side looked like scoring until the 60th minute when James Beckman from a free kick found Addi Brader in space behind the Olympic defence. Just as Addi was looking to set himself to shoot for goal for the equaliser he unfortunately stepped on the ball and fell. The advancing Olympic keeper gathered up the ball to avert danger for his team.
In the 69th minute Liam Burns saved a certain Olympic goal as he covered for Josh Wall who had to come off his line to attempt to close down an Olympic through ball. The attacker got to the ball first and lobbed the bouncing ball over the advancing Josh Wall but Liam had continued his run back and cleared the ball to safety.
Despite the one goal deciding the outcome, the game lacked the intensity of the previous week particularly for the disappointing Fire.
Player of the Match: Josh Wall
Under 18 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (0) v Brisbane Roar FC (3)
A fiery start by Brisbane Roar put the back four under pressure early and lead to a set piece on the edge of the box. Jordan Vieira, Jed Zanos and Jordan Lloyd created numerous chances following the set piece, however not able to work the Brisbane Roar goalkeeper. Sean de Chastel unleashed a longshot which trouble the Brisbane Roar goalkeeper and forced a save. With a minute left in the first half, Brisbane Roar scored the opening goal of the game after a cross and a save by Luke Marker in goal lead to a tap in after a Brisbane Roar player was left unmarked in the box.
Second half began with a Vieira longshot as Sunshine Coast looked to equalise early into the half. Moments later a Brisbane Roar cross found its way into the back of the net and doubling the visitors advantage. Substitutions entered the game in the likes of Izaac Watson and U16 player Kobe Fuller for Zanos and De Chastel. Fuller worked a cross into the box to find Rhyan Scriggins who rolled over the bar. More possession football and patient build up play lead to a Fuller shot. A counter attack and skill in the box led to Brisbane Roars third goal of the game.
Player of the Match: Matthew Carrick
