Our Lions Men braved an intense Semi-Final contest against Moreton City Excelsior, with Alex Fiechtner’s brace securing a 2-1 victory in extra-time
Midweek action, and an immense shift from the boys. Our Kappa Pro Series Semi-Final lived up to the occasion, with our Lions Men edging last year’s Premiers in extra-time.
It was an energetic start at Luxury Paints Stadium as both teams tested the waters and looked to fashion early chances while settling into the game. Eremugo Debele and Alex Fiechtner both saw early chances miss the mark, and a close-range strike from the visitors clattered against the left post in the fifteenth minute to give our defence a scare.
A period of dominance in the final third from Moreton City required Shaun Carlos to make a crisp sliding challenge on the edge of the box to prevent a shot, and saw Cardiff Pond make a reactive save to tip a scorching first-time strike over the woodwork.
As we tipped the tempo back in our favour, Blair Ponting dragged a low shot across the face of goal while searching for the bottom left corner, and Eremugo sliced a divisive low cross towards the back post, which Jackson Hart-Phillips blasted into the side netting from a slender angle!
After Blair Ponting was fouled in the box, Alex Fiechtner stepped up to the spot, but his low effort towards the bottom left corner was saved by the keeper. Two minutes later, he curled a picturesque strike millimetres shy of the top right corner, and another two minutes later, broke the deadlock!
A sly first touch to create space behind the defence, and a calm finish into the bottom right corner from close range!
34′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
A brilliant first touch to hoodwink the defence, and Alex Fiechtner slots home calmly to break the deadlock 😮💨
𝐋𝐈𝐎 1 – 0 𝐌𝐂𝐄#HeartPridePassion | #KappaProSeries pic.twitter.com/rMDxl8qUch
— Lions FC (@lionsfc1) March 11, 2026
Cardiff Pond did brilliantly to tip a powerful curling freekick wide of the lower left-hand corner, and our Lions Men took a 1-0 advantage into the break.
Back on the field, and an early strike from Rahmat Akbari tested the goalkeeper from distance. It was a quicker start from the visitors, however, and Luka Jankovic buried a lethal strike into the bottom right corner to make it 1-1 before the hour.
Our defence remained composed under another period of pressure, with Harvey Pope making a vital sliding intervention to prevent a defence-splitting ball from being played. Cher Denge did excellently to chase down Marquez Walters at full sprint, winning the duel and preventing a shot. Liam Ponting made a great challenge inside the box to win possession and prevent a shot, and Rahmat Akbari made a smooth sliding tackle to win the ball. Box Office defending from the boys!
Alex Fiechtner turned his defender and flashed a sharp strike across the face of goal late in the game, and Jackson Hart-Phillips saw a searing half-volley blocked by the first man at the back post. Tuquiri Beckett saw his late effort blocked in his first appearance of the season, and deep in stoppage time, Cher Deng made a brilliant intervention to prevent a one-v-one from materialising.
After Finn Beakhurst’s powerful strike bounced across the face of goal and missed the bottom left corner by inches, the referee blew full-time, and we prepared for an additional thirty minutes of action.
With the game back underway, our Lions Men looked far more comfortable. Finn Beakhurst flicked a bouncing overhead ball towards the back post for Alex Fiechtner, but again his well-timed strike missed the target by millimetres.
Both Finn and Alex saw a series of shots blocked and saved from opposite side of the box, each time rebounding to the other to have a crack. The fifth attempt sailed over the crossbar. A really strong build-up that started after Harvey Pope won possession saw our Lions Men advance to the edge of the box, but Tuquiri Beckett’s strike was blocked.
Eremugo Debele was sliced down inside the box moments before half-time, and Alex Fiechtner stepped up again to face the music. With ice in his veins, Alex calmly slotted his penalty into the bottom right corner to restore our lead!
104′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
No mistake and no fear from Alex Fiechtner, who slots his penalty into the bottom right corner with precision 🎯
𝐋𝐈𝐎 2 – 1 𝐌𝐂𝐄#HeartPridePassion | #KappaProSeries pic.twitter.com/j7h7BRqUoY
— Lions FC (@lionsfc1) March 11, 2026
The second half simply required composure to ensure our progression, and we delivered. Tuquiri Beckett continued to create danger in the final third, and our defence remained resolute as ever. An emphatic header from Tommy Jarrard cleared a dangerous late cross, and our Lions Men remained steadfast until the final whistle, which solidified our place in a third consecutive Kappa Pro Series Final.
Congratulations to Dan Barber and the boys on a powerful effort, and a massive thank you to our incredible Lions Academy players who showed up and brought and incredible energy to the game!
𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐀.𝐄.𝐓 | Brave, proud, and intense from our Lions Men to secure a third consecutive appearance in the Kappa Pro Series Final.
Outstanding collective effort and willpower. We march on 😤 #HeartPridePassion pic.twitter.com/iOMk7mHGy3
— Lions FC (@lionsfc1) March 11, 2026
Dan Barber shared his thoughts as our Lions Men march onto the Cup Final in May, and how he felt in the aftermath of that immense battle.
“Tied, and I’m sure the players are as well. But first and foremost, delighted for the players. I’m delighted that they’ve been able to get through, not just the ninety minutes, but the full thirty minutes to get the job done before penalties.
Even though it was kind of an expectation at this club that we’re challenging on all fronts, you’ve still got to be able to get there and go through the process and win games, which are not knockout games like tonight. So they’ve shown that they’re capable of doing that against last year’s Premiers, which is an important step for them as a playing group and for us as a collective. So I can’t be more pleased that we’ve had two important wins. One in the league, and obviously, this one.
After the activation that we’ve done in the junior Academy early on, to see a lot of the faces helping us, supporting the boys and the team throughout, and you’ve seen a lot of moments at the end where players were signing autographs, and they were in the changing room, celebrating with the team. They’re special, I think it shows what we’re trying to do as a club both in the community academy and senior space, and hopefully we can build on that as a club”
MATCH DETAILS:
Kappa Pro Series: Semi-Final
Lions FC 2 – 1 Moreton City Excelsior
Goalscorers:
Alex Fiechtner 34′, 105′ (P)
