A STRONG FIRST HALF SAW OUR LIONS MEN PROGRESS TO THE SEMI-FINALS WITH A 2-1 VICTORY OVER THE SUNSHINE COAST WANDERERS
A wildly eventful opening five minutes saw a goal and a red card both in favour of our Lions Men.
Andy Pengelly rose at the front post to nod a careful header into the top left corner, and our Lions Men had the perfect start at Luxury Paints Stadium!
5′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
Andy Pengelly sneaks in at the front post, nodding a gentle header through the keeper with poise!
𝐋𝐈𝐎 1 – 0 𝐒𝐂𝐖#HeartPridePassion | #KappaProSeries
— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) June 4, 2025
Minutes later, Luke Broderick faced a cynical set of studs to the knee, and Sunshine Coast Wanderers were reduced to ten men.
Trent Millard made a penetrating run off the right shoulder, sending an outstretched trivella-volley into the upper right corner with composure!
22′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
Trent Millard pokes a clean, outside-boot volley into the upper right corner with power 🔥
𝐋𝐈𝐎 2 – 0 𝐒𝐂𝐖#HeartPridePassion | #KappaProSeries
— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) June 4, 2025
While we were largely in control of the match and had a numerical advantage to boost our presence, the visitors weren’t going to stand on the field and take it. A chance in the thirtieth minute sent a first warning, and Tommy Jarrard was forced to make a volleyed goal-line clearance to prevent a goal.
All the same, the Wanderers found a breakthrough minutes later, slashing a sharp cutback across goal, and into Cardiff Pond’s near post after an unlucky deflection. We followed up with several quick chances through Mitch Hore and Jack Skinner, and created a beautiful chance that saw Trent Millard’s back-post volley blocked.
We entered the break with a tight 2-1 lead that certainly didn’t feel secure.
The second half started with an immediate penalty call that was overturned. We continued relentless chance creation, firing a barrage of early shots in search of a security goal.
Trent Millard scythed a powerful bouncing strike across the left post, and Jack Skinner forced a brave block after surging forward one-v-one with the keeper! A swift move to beat the Wanderers’ tight offside line saw Andy Pengelly scoop his effort over the crossbar, and Luke Broderick forced a reactive save at the near post after Joe Duckworth’s staggering long-ball evaded the defence and gave our winger metres of space.
The visitors looked for an avenue back into the game, but Hassan Ramazani and Tommy Jarrard remained immense in the centre to prevent any threat to Cardiff Pond. Both Trent Millard and Jackson Hart-Phillips played a vital role in carrying the ball forward as we tried to weather a late flurry of attacks from the Wanderers.
We remained focused on our goal, and held on with resolution to see out a deserved and dominant 2-1 victory at Luxury Paints Stadium. The result sees us through to the Kappa Pro Series Semi-Finals!
MATCH DETAILS
Kappa Pro Series: Quarter Finals
Lions FC 2 – 1 Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Luxury Paints Stadium
