Hyundai Queensland State League – Round 9
Sunshine Coast Fire v Queensland Academy of Sport
After recording a hard-fought 2-0 victory in Mareeba last weekend, the Sunshine Coast Fire will head into Round 9 of the Hyundai Queensland State League with their winning streak intact and confidence sky high.
Despite injury problems and two long road-trips in the previous three rounds, the Fire have accounted for all in their path and remain undefeated after eight rounds.
This week the boys take on the Queensland Academy of Sport, who sit in seventh place on the ladder but have put together some strong performances of late. After drawing 1-1 against the Brisbane Strikers in Round 7, QAS last week recorded a 4-2 victory over the Whitsunday Miners and will come into this weekend’s match full of confidence.
The Fire last met QAS in Round 2, in one of the most eventful fixtures of the season.
A goal down and reduced to ten men, the team had their backs to the wall. Enter Yuta Gonai, whose second half hat-trick brought the Fire back from the brink for a 5-3 victory.
Much like the Fire, QAS scored two late goals to claim victory in the Round 8. A late brace to Jayden Liddicoat carried QAS clear of the Whitsunday Miners for a 4-2 triumph.
Following last weekend’s gruelling journey to Mareeba to take on the FNQ Bulls and the team’s midweek fixture against the Football Superstars, it is possible that coach Aston Bell was reshuffle his starting line-up against QAS.
As the season wears on and injuries and fatigue begin to wreak havoc, depth players become more and more important. Luckily for the Fire, several Under-19 players are putting their hand up for selection.
Striker Ryan Delahunty has already made an impression, playing against Bundaberg and Far North Queensland in the last two rounds.
Aston Bell was happy to have the opportunity to play a number of Under-19’s in his senior team that defeated the Football Superstars on Wednesday night.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to give six of them a taste of senior football already, so it was nice for those youth players who hadn’t had a chance to play senior football to get that opportunity tonight,” Bell said after the match.
The Under 19’s match against QAS kicks off at 2pm on Sunday May 23, to be followed by the senior match at 4pm. The games will be played at Stockland Park’s Western Field’s in Bokarina.
