First Team:
Sunshine Coast Fire 2 v Moreton Bay 0
Sunshine Coast Fire has moved into eighth position with a 2-0 win over fierce rivals, second-placed Moreton Bay Jets, on Sunday at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Reyze Kelly secured the home-side’s victory with goals in the 22nd and 60th minutes, taking his tally to five goals in two games, while Moreton Bay was kept scoreless.
Fire applied pressure from the first whistle, maintaining the majority of possession in the opening minutes.
The first chance of the game came on 5 minutes when Jayke Cuschieri’s free kick created a goal-mouth scramble, however the Fire’s attempts to toe-poke the ball home were unsuccessful.
On 12 minutes a threatening cross from Dave Macrae allowed Futa Nakamura to head the ball just inches wide.
Moreton Bay saw their first chance on 15 minutes when a slip-up from Chiharu Kosuge gifted possession to Charles Mendy, who ran onto goal but sent his shot over.
Mendy again had a chance on the 21st minute from a Royce Browlie cross, however his header was sent wide.
Fire’s pressure paid off in the 22nd minute as Nakamura made a low cross from the goal line in to Kelly, who poked the ball home from six-yards out in front of goal to give Fire the lead.
Fire continued to create chances, with the partnership of Jordan Miller and Brock Messenger down the right flank proving successful.
In the 34th minute Nakamura found space in the penalty area but his shot went straight to Moreton Bay keeper Luke Borean. Ten minutes later Nakamura intercepted the ball on the half-way line and ran into the penalty area but dragged his shot to the left of goal.
The two teams continued to trade blows in the second half, with the first chance falling to Fire, as Nakamura received an aerial pass in the 47th minute to volley the ball over the crossbar.
Fire was received a free-kick in the 50th minute from a hand-ball by Borean outside the penalty box. The resulting set-piece was sent low to Arnison, whose driving shot was saved by Borean.
Moreton Bay saw chances in the 52nd minute when Mendy pulled a shot wide, however it was Fire who were again on the scoreboard in the 61st minute as Kelly received a low cross from Nakamura and slotted the ball in from six yards.
Jets danger-man Brownlie forced a save from Fire keeper Sam Nickolls just five minutes later with a driving free-kick, but Fire then created a flurry of chances as Kelly and Grant de Chastel linked up, forcing a save from Borean and moments later Miller forced another save, which rebounded and the resultant header went wide. Kelly rounded off the chances with another shot wide of the goal.
In the 80th minute Doug Neil substituted for Miller and Fire began to sit behind the ball, frustrating Jets’ attack. The last clear cut chance came from Sheumack, who headed across goal for Nickolls to palm away.
Fire held out the dying minutes with a two goal buffer, and secured a second win in a row.
Sunshine Coast Fire 2 (Kelly 22’, 61’)
Moreton Bay Jets 0
Open Women’s Team:
Sunshine Coast Fire 2 v Redlands 4
The Fire Open Women’s Team took on Women’s football powerhouse Redlands at home in Round 2 of the SEQWPL 1, following the league split.
A bright start from the Fire saw them take the lead early. Good work from Samara Christmas released Danielle White who finished confidently in a one on one in the 10th minute.
Kirsty Clifford increased Fire’s lead in the 17th minute when she ran onto a through-ball from Carmel Murphy-Pollard and, despite the defender’s attempts to block, struck the ball across the face of goal and into the far corner for her third goal of the season.
However Redlands fought back and managed to pull two goals back in the 28th and 40th minutes to level the score at half-time.
A strong performance from Redlands in the second half saw them control the game, restricting Fire to the occasional breakaway. The Fire defended stoutly, but could not hang on .
Redlands scored a third goal from a corner in the 75th minute, frustrating Fire who had worked to restrict Redlands to possession in the middle of the field. A fourth goal in the 78th minute ensured the three points for Redlands.
