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Kappa Pro Series Final: Three In A Row

A spirited late fightback saw our Lions Men force extra-time at the death, before defeating Brisbane City 3-2 in Extra Time to claim a third successive Kappa Pro Series title

The rain did everything in its power to halt this game, but football prevailed at Goodwin Park. Kicking off at the same ground that saw us lift our first Kappa Pro Series title in 2024, our Lions Men were now seeking a historic three-peat.

A Brisbane Classico always ups the stakes. It certainly created a spectacle as our oldest rivals sought their first piece of silverware since being promoted to the NPL. We were looking for our third Kappa Pro Series in a row after last year’s 1-0 win over Moreton City Excelsior, which crowned us record holders.

Alex Fiechtner saw an early shot blocked after a sharp cutback, and City squandered the chance to break the deadlock after Harvey Pope’s sliding challenge fell to them in dangerous territory. City struck the post, and soon after it was Luke Broderick forcing a save down the opposite end.

Great play saw Jackson Hart-Phillips win possession high, playing Luke Broderick, whose shot was blocked, and falling to Alex Fiechtner, who couldn’t hit the target. With several chances apiece, Brisbane City drew first blood. It was an excellent cross, and the header across the keeper from close range by Malakai Love Semira found the back of the net.

Looking to capitalise quickly on their momentum, City slipped into the box, beating the keeper at close range, but a sensational sliding goal-line clearance from Sander Griggs kept us alive inside the opening half-hour.

We struggled for a period to break down a fired-up City side, with Tommy Jarrard and Mitch Hore both relied upon to make crucial challenges inside the box. An outstanding near-post save from Jacson Riley ensured the deficit remained one, and we entered the break trailing 1-0 with work required to find our way back.

Back on the field amidst a heavy, heavy downpour, and we hit the ground running with an energy that suggested we were going to force our way back into this game.

Sander Griggs immediately forced a save, and Alex Fiechtner whipped a powerful outswinging freekick inches shy of the top right corner. Shaun Carlos turned on the edge of the box and saw a low effort saved.

All eyes were on the centre of the pitch, which resembled a pond more than a football field, but play carried on. Minutes before the hour, Alex Fiechtner found the equaliser, finishing calmly after a great ball down the right flank, and a sharp cutback to the centre!


Minutes after the goal, play was halted to address the increasingly expanding lake in the centre of the park. It was an impressive and much-appreciated effort from the Olympic FC groundsteam, who worked diligently for fifteen minutes to soak up the water and remove all of the puddles from the pitch.

Both sides traded blows without fortune, and Alex Fiechtner saw an audacious right-footed volley saved by the keeper. Down the other end, Jacson Riley produced an insane one-v-one save at point-blank range to keep the scores level.

With less than five minutes remaining, Brisbane City struck what they certainly thought was the winner. A ruthless strike into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box by Ben Hermiston. Time was not on our side, but we regrouped quickly and pushed onwards.

A quick response saw Alex Fiechtner strike the right-peg at the back post after a cross found him free, and our Lions Men threw everything at the goal as we looked for a goal to force extra-time.

Two minutes into stoppage time, and Rahmat Akbari stands over a freekick wide of the left side of the box. His inswinging delivery falls dangerously at the back post, and incites a goalmouth scramble that saw a flurry of shots and clearances scuffed and misdirected until Mitch Hore’s fatal touch forced the ball into the back of the net.

Queue absolute limbs!

Finn Beakhurst almost found the winner a minute later, and then in the 95th minute Bilal Sadozai saw City down to ten men as we entered Extra Time.

Play resumed again, and now it felt inevitable that our Lions Men would find the winner. But it wouldn’t be easy.

Tuquiri Beckett cut inside and blasted an early left-footed effort over the crossbar, and in the 100th minute, Mitch Hore struck again, planting a smart first-time effort into the bottom left corner after a swift cutback from the left channel!

From there, City were forced to come out of their shell in search of the equaliser, which gave us control as we exploited the space.

The wet field certainly didn’t help us as we targeted another goal. Tuquiri Beckett shot into an empty goal from forty yards after the keeper came up for a set-piece, but his on-target effort was eventually stopped dead in the box by the drenched grass before it could cross the line.

Soon after, Tresor Christophe ran onto a through-ball from his own half, with not a City player in sight. On a normal day, he runs that ball straight into the net and celebrates, but this time the ball moved like cement, and he was eventually overrun by the City defenders tracking back.

Alex Fiechtner drilled a late effort across the face of the goal, and minutes later cut inside and rifled a near-post effort wide. City had a few late half-chances, and the referee’s whistle blew to crown us Champions again.

An incredible achievement, winning three consecutive Kappa Pro Series titles. A testament to our winning mentality, fighting spirit, heart, and pride to overcome a late gut-punch, force the equaliser, and complete the comeback.

Congratulations to Dan Barber and our coaching team on their first trophy as a group. Congratulations as well to our playing group, some of whom were here when we won our first title in 2024, and some who lifted their first piece of silverware for Lions FC.

A brilliant game of football, befitting of a Cup Final. Well done to everybody involved.

MATCH DETAILS:

Kappa Pro Series Final

Lions FC 3 – 2 Brisbane City

Goalscorers:

Alex Fiechtner 56′

Mitch Hore 90+2′, 100′

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