Hyundai Queensland State League – Preliminary Final
Sunshine Coast Fire v North Queensland Razorbacks
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Kane Frampton – Staff Reporter
The Sunshine Coast Fire have recovered from the brink of elimination to overpower the North Queensland Razorbacks 3-1, with two extra time goals helping the side book a place in next week’s HQSL Grand Final.
After a scoreless first half in heavy rain at Stockland Park, North Queensland went ahead through Jacob Crowley in the 63rd minute, before a 78th minute strike from Ryan Delahunty squared the ledger. Goals in the first period of extra time from Tyson Holmes and Chris Bacon were enough to get the Fire over the line.
Consistent rain made for terrible playing conditions in Kawana, with the ball skidding across the waterlogged pitch. Both sides were cagey early on and looked to get a feel for the conditions before taking the game on.
The Fire set about creating most of the early chances, as the side broke well down the right through Josh Taylor, who released Aaron Brazendale and allowed him to whip a dangerous cross in that was well cleared by the North Queensland defence.
After 15 minutes, Josh Searle had the best chance of the match after winning possession and breaking through the Fire’s defence into the penalty area. Searle slipped a low shot past Hall, but pulled it inches wide of the left upright. In the next play, it was Searle again who capitalised on lost possession and moved into the penalty area, but again he missed the bottom corner by the narrowest of margins.
The Fire were shocked into action by these near misses, and began to wrestle control of the match halfway through the opening stanza. Set pieces were difficult to defend for both sides, and a long throw from James Stinson caused a scramble in the goalmouth, with the ball eventually being hacked away for a corner. From the ensuing corner, Greig Henslee found possession on the edge of the area and hit a decent effort just over the crossbar.
Up the other end, the Razorbacks were potent with their limited possession, and winger Lorenzo Sipi showed good close control to create a chance, but Antony Hall displayed his reflexes with a strong save.
With half time approaching, the rain which had been falling lightly all match began to get heavier, and the pitch became increasingly waterlogged. The Fire almost broke the deadlock from a corner, when Tyson Holmes connected well with a volley that went wide.
The second half kicked off at a higher tempo, and the Fire had a chance to get on the scoresheet within minutes, when Blackman and Holmes combined well before being denied by the last defender. Soon after, Sam Knight chipped a ball into the box that troubled Razorbacks keeper Daniel Wilesmith, who tipped it over the bar.
As had been the case all game, the Sunshine Coast had a slight advantage in terms of possession, but were unable to play their usual expansive game due to the conditions. North Queensland were making the most of their limited opportunities and shooting on sight when possible. Anthony Galliozzi curled a shot wide from well outside the area, with Hall at full stretch trying to keep it out.
With the deadlock extending into the second half it seemed likely that the match would go the full 90 minutes scoreless, but North Queensland had other ideas.
On 63 minutes, Josh Searle moved down the left flank and cut in from the byline, riding a tackle as he closed in on goal. With Hall committed, Searle passed to substitute Jacob Crowley on six yards, who swept the ball into an empty net with his first touch of the match.
Shell-shocked at going down against the run of play, the Sunshine Coast did their best to recover as quickly as possible, knowing that only 27 minutes stood between them and elimination.
Aaron Brazendale whipped in a corner that bounced through the six yard box, but nobody was able to get a vital touch on the ball.
With 13 minutes to go, the Fire won a free-kick in a dangerous area, 25 yards out from goal. Both Holmes and Blackman stood over the ball, but it was Blackman who made the play, favouring power over precision as he fired a low shot toward goal. With Wilesmith well positioned to make the save, Ryan Delahunty bobbed up to divert the shot into the top corner and level the scores at 1-1.
With the game saved, the Fire were wary of letting the Razorbacks back into the contest and held possession well. Strong challenges from Alex Henderson and Greig Henslee snuffed out North Queensland scoring chances as full time approached.
On 88 minutes, North Queensland failed to clear their lines and substitute Corey Towle gained possession on the edge of the area, and settled before shooting on goal. Wilesmith was well positioned to make the save.
After two minutes of injury time, the whistle sounded to end the 90 minutes with scores level at 1-1. With the rain continuing to fall heavily, the first of two periods of extra time kicked off.
Barely a minute into extra time, the Fire took the lead for the first time in the match. Holmes moved into the penalty area and shot under pressure on his left foot, and the ball cannoned off a defender’s shin and into the net, to the delight of home fans.
With a Grand Final berth within their grasp, the Fire kept the pressure up and looked to frustrate the Razorbacks as they moved forward. With the game slipping away from them, North Queensland were losing composure and launched some speculative shots on goal from well outside the penalty area.
With the first period of extra time almost over, the Sunshine Coast earned a corner. After the defence cleared the danger, Josh Taylor gained possession outside the penalty area and chipped a ball to substitute Chris Bacon, who ran onto the pass and angled a header past Wilesmith for a 3-1 lead.
North Queensland looked battered as the second period of extra time kicked off, but the Fire showed no mercy. Holmes almost got on the scoresheet again when he hit the post with a left foot strike.
As the final minutes of the match ticked away, Michael Lancini was sent off for a late challenge on Josh Taylor, which proved to be the end of the Razorbacks resistance. The final whistle sounded for a 3-1 victory to the Fire, who dug deep when it counted to book a Grand Final rematch with the Brisbane Strikers on Saturday evening.
Coach Aston Bell paid tribute to his side for recovering from the brink of defeat.
“We’ve come out today and shown a lot of character, played some fantastic football, and I think we deserve what we’ve got.”
After going to extra time against Brisbane last week, Bell believes another 120 minutes of football today will help heading into Saturday’s Grand Final.
“I’m delighted that we have played two 120 minute matches, you can’t replace match fitness. Our guys still had plenty of running towards the end of today, so that’s a good sign for next week.”
The final match of the season for the Sunshine Coast Fire will be on Saturday, September 11, at Perry Park in Albion, when the Grand Final is contested between the Fire and Brisbane Strikers. Kickoff will be at 7pm.
Final Score: Sunshine Coast FC – 3 (Delahunty, 78, Holmes, 92, Bacon, 105) North Queensland – 1 (Crowley, 63)
