Lions FC 5 (Mikkola 7′, 15′; Farina 51′, 53′; Fiechtner 75′)
Capalaba Bulldogs 0
HT 2-0
Two second-half goals in two minutes from Jordan Farina helped Lions FC to a convincing 5-0 success over Capalaba Bulldogs on Wednesday night at Lions Stadium.
Farina’s double added to a first-half double from Max Mikkola as Lions dominated a physical encounter. Alex Fiechtner rounding out the scoring late on.
The game started with gusto as the Bulldogs looked to impose themselves on the game early but it took just seven minutes for the hosts to open the scoring.
Zach Maltby making a run into the box and playing a low ball in for Mikkola to guide in at the near post.
Mikkola doubled Lions advantage on the quarter-hour mark. A free-kick inside Lions half led to Matija Simic launching a long ball forward. Fiechtner began a run for the ball but was in an offside position, opting to leave the ball for Mikkola to run onto and lob the advancing Capalaba keeper Matt Carr. There were strong suggestions Mikkola has also been offside when commencing his run but the assistant referee thought otherwise and Lions were two goals to the good.
The hosts went close to further extending their lead midway through the half with Fiechtner seeing his effort cleared off the line after being played in long and rounding Carr. Tristan Hugo getting an important clearance in. It would be Carr’s last involvement in the game, picking up a hand injury when attempting to gather in the clearance and copping a boot from Jordan Farina. Substitute keeper Tomislav Mesaric taking his place.
Fiechtner was again involved in two further chances for Lions. Hitting the side netting on 36 minutes and then teeing up a chance for Farina in first-half added time. The Lions striker forcing a good save from Mesaric.
Lions returned for the second half and took an early stranglehold on the game, putting the game beyond the Bulldogs just five minutes after the restart.
A low long through ball from Ethan Docherty picked out the run of Finn Beakhurst who’s pinpoint ball into the box found Farina for an easy tap in.
Farina grabbed his second and Lions fourth two minutes later. Joe Duckworth winning a free-kick close to the Lion’s bench. Substitute Nathan Shepherd, on for Zach Maltby who’d received a concussion late in the first half after a hefty challenge, delivered a delightful ball into the box for Farina to head across Mesaric and into the far corner of the goal.
Beakhurst was denied by the upright when clean through on goal midway through the half. Bearing down on Mesaric he had oodles of time to pick his spot, firing across the Bulldogs keeper but finding the far post instead of the back of the net.
Fiechtner finally got his reward for a solid performance with 15 minutes remaining. Bulldogs substitute Yianni Kondilis giving the ball away for Farina to pick up and turn provider, sliding a neat measured ball through for his strike partner to run on to, beating the offside trap and rounding Mesaric for an easy finish.
Mikkola almost got his hat trick late on when playing a one-two with Beakhurst and getting free into the box. Mesaric denying him at his near post.
The win lifts Lions into 6th spot on the NPL ladder and just two points off of 4th placed Sunshine Coast Wanderers and 3rd place Gold Coast Knights.
Gold Coast United are Lions, next opponents, on Saturday evening at Lions Stadium. Nothing but three points will be expected as Darren Sime’s charges look to make it four wins on the trot.
Team Line ups:
Lions FC:
Borean (gk), Simic, Jarrard, Fiechtner, Duckworth, Farina, Docherty, Beakhurst, Carlos, Mikkola, Maltby.
Subs: Murphy (rgk), Thompson, Shepherd, Minett, Nichols, Solorzano.
Capalaba Bulldogs:
Carr (gk), Parker, Perez Rodriguez, D. Deng, Gordon, Mudnic, Aoci, Hammad, Karenzo, Morgan, Hugo.
Subs: Sidiqi, Cinello, Long, A. Deng, Kondilis, Mesaric (rgk).
Referee: Andy Elks
