An incredible display of patience, discipline and bravery inspired us to fight from two goals behind to win four-three in a scrappy and uncomfortable away game at Capalaba.
A first-half Andy Pengelly brace sparked a stunning second-half comeback after our Lions fell behind by two goals in the opening twenty minutes.
On a narrow Capalaba pitch and completely out of our comfort zone, Capalaba took an early lead through a catastrophic defensive error, before doubling their margin eight minutes later through an arguably worse blunder at the back.
With our wide-midfielders confined on the touchline and our ability to utilise space diminished by Capalaba’s tight back-five, it took our Lions a while to get used to their environment.
With an intelligent switch of play created by a freekick on the left side of the park, we were able to create space to send in a lofted cross over the keeper’s head for Andy Pengelly to nod down at the back post.
With momentum in our favour, we struck the woodwork following a blistering run down the left flank by Alex Fiechtner before a curling Joe Duckworth freekick grazed the crossbar on the top left corner.
On the edge of the interval, Pengelly tapped home the leveller following a powerful Fiechtner shot that the keeper was unable to hold on to.
Entering the second half at level pegging, Zach Maltby scored his second of the season after a mazy run from the right side of attack allowed him to cut in along the by-line before slotting home the game-changer among a commotion of bodies in the box.
Last week’s last-minute saviour Jean Carlos Solórzano entered the fray with twenty minutes to go, stepping up again when it mattered to volley home the winner from close range after a direct Alex Fiechtner cross.
We survived a late scare after Deng Deng pulled one back for the home side and threatened to inspire a comeback.
With two late comebacks ahead of this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash at home against Olympic, our Lions have shown that they can fight back when it matters, no matter the odds.
MATCH DETAILS
Men’s NPL Queensland 2022 Round #1
Capalaba Bulldogs vs Lions FC
Tuesday, 3rd May
KO: 7:30pm
Max Haynes Field, Capalaba
CAPALABA BULLDOGS 3
LIONS FC 4
HT: 2-2
