LIONS MEN CLINCH FIRST KAPPA PRO SERIES TITLE WITH A GALVANISING GRAND FINAL VICTORY OVER GOLD COAST UNITED
A beautiful first-half double from Alex Fiechtner & a brilliant late winner from Luke Broderick made history in a dramatic 3-2 triumph!
Donned in orange, our Lions Men entered the field at Goodwin Park, resolute and ready. It was our first Grand Final since 2021.
We didn’t let the occasion intimidate us, launching straight into from the first whistle. Andy Pengelly guided a first-time half-volley inches wide of the bottom left corner within the first minute before a staggering diagonal run from Jack Skinner ended with an immense one-v-one save to deny the early opener.
The early opener came one minute later. Finn Beakhurst sent a soaring set piece from the left side of the pitch over to the back post. Dom Horwood nodded the ball back into the danger zone, and Alex Fiechtner rose at the near post to plant a firm header into the top right corner with balance.
1-0 in the fifth minute!
5′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
Alex Fiechtner rises with the opener!!!
Dom Horwood nods Finn Beakhurst’s set-piece into the danger zone, and Alex pounces with precision 🔥
𝐆𝐂𝐔 0 – 1 𝐋𝐈𝐎 #HeartPridePassion | #KappaProSeries
— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) July 27, 2024
A showdown between the best offence and the best defence was always going to deliver. Gold Coast United stamped their mark on the game in the twentieth minute with a piercing strike into the bottom right corner after a slaloming run across the edge of the box.
Alex Fiechtner delivered an immediate response. A proper ‘anything you can do, I can do better’ strike. His trademark move. Receiving the ball on the tip of the box, Alex cut inside sharply onto his left foot and steered a beautiful curling strike into the deepest point of the top right corner!
23′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
Alex Fiechtner cuts inside and scores a 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐘👌
Trademark goal. Alex demonstrates the art of football!
𝐆𝐂𝐔 1 – 2 𝐋𝐈𝐎 #HeartPridePassion | #KappaProSeries
— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) July 27, 2024
Our Lions didn’t let up after reclaiming the lead. Alex Fiechtner squared the ball to Andy Pengelly, but his low first-time effort was saved incredibly at point-blank range. Ten minutes before the break, Alex Fiechnter clattered a powerful effort against the right post before Jack Skinner forced a fine diving save after a zig-zagging run towards the goal.
A promising first-half performance saw us 2-1 up, but the job was far from over.
We kicked off the second half focused and lively. Cardiff Pond was called into early action to make a save at his near post before Dom Horwood made an old-school centre-back run, leaving his post to make a penetrating run into the opposition’s box. His low shot across goal was saved confidently.
In search of his hattrick, Alex Fiechtner cut inside and fired a sharp effort across the face of goal. Jake Bulla Minett made an immense block down the other end to prevent a shot from dangerous space.
With ten minutes remaining, the Football Gods threw another challenge at us. Fraser Hills made it 2-2, levelling the score through an emphatic half-volley on the outside of his boot. He set up a blockbuster final ten minutes in what had already been a high-calibre, high-attacking, and high-energy game of football—a proper Grand Final.
Finn Beakhurst always scored a work of art straight from the kick-off. Starting the move from halfway, Finn played the ball into space before making a penetrating run into the 18-yard box. He received the ball with a swift flick, elegantly lofting it over his defender and drilling a left-footed half-volley into the crossbar.
The final act of a scintillating Grand Final saw Luke Broderick forge his name in Lions legend. With minutes remaining of regulation time, Luke made a run into the left channel, receiving the ball before feinting inside and chopping outside to set himself on his left foot. With minimal space against the byline, Broderick buried a ruthless shot over the keeper and into the back of the net with venom.
86′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
Luke Broderick nails a ruthless strike into the back of the net after cutting onto his left foot on the byline 🚀
𝐆𝐂𝐔 2 – 3 𝐋𝐈𝐎 #HeartPridePassion | #KappaProSeries
— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) July 27, 2024
With five minutes of stoppage time added, we left everything on the field to ensure we tasted victory. The final whistle blew in an eruption of relief and reward.
Hassan Ramazani led the swarm of Lions Juniors onto the field at full-time to celebrate in jubilation. A credit to the atmosphere the young Lions created. They didn’t stop singing all night, and their energy was no doubt felt on the field.
A remarkable effort across the tournament, reflected in the shine of our Kappa Pro Series trophy. A famous night in orange, and our first Kappa Pro Series title.
Congratulations to everybody involved, from the coaches and the players, to everybody in between.
MATCH DETAILS
Kappa Pro Series Grand-Final
Lions FC 3 – 2 Gold Coast United
Goodwin Park, Yeronga
5′ Alex Fiechtner
23′ Alex Fiechtner
86′ Luke Broderick