OUR LIONS MEN LIFT THEIR RECORD-EXTENDING FIFTH NPL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE WITH A 2-1 GRAND FINAL VICTORY OVER MORETON CITY EXCELSIOR
Walking out to an emphatic crowd at Perry Park, our Lions Men, famous for winning Grand Finals in white, set out to recreate their famous Perry Park triumphs from 2020 & 2021.
Playing for back-to-back NPL Championship titles in a rematch of last season’s NPL Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium, our Lions Men started with energy and intensity against this year’s Premiers. Having defeated them in three consecutive finals (most recently in the Pro Series Final at Perry Park), Joe Duckworth sent the fans into raptures with a magnetic first-time strike into the roof of the top right corner! Laces straight through the ball with no possible defence!
5′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
JOE DUCKWORTH STRIKES FIRST WITH A RUTHLESS FIRST-TIME ROCKET INTO THE TOP RIGHT CORNER 🚀
𝐌𝐂𝐄 0 – 1 𝐋𝐈𝐎 #HeartPridePassion | #NPLQLD
— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) September 13, 2025
As we looked to quickly double our advantage, Jack Skinner knifed a sharp right-footed effort across the keeper and inches shy of the bottom right corner! Matt Acton made a necessary claim to prevent a cross from creating danger, and another quick strike from Jack Skinner forced an uncomfortable save via a deflection.
With Moreton City growing gradually into the game, Liam McArthur was called on to make a critical defensive intervention, preventing a close one-v-one chance. Twenty-five minutes on the clock, and Joe Scott curled home the equaliser, slicing inside and placing a firm effort into the upper left-hand corner.
Few chances followed after the equaliser, and an intense first-half ended 1-1 at Perry Park.
Both sides emerged in the second half with plenty of fight, and it was Moreton City Excelsior who quickly put the pressure on our Lions’ defence. Oskar Dillon made an important goal-line clearance to prevent an early goal for Excelsior, and a desperate diving save from Matt Acton kept us level after a turnover in possession caught us out of position.
Less than twenty minutes remained when Jack Skinner broke the deadlock at last. After winning the ball on the left side of the field, Jack skipped across the box, beating his man and swinging his foot around a heavy touch to strike the bottom right corner with pace!
72′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
IT’S JACK SKINNER WITH THE DAGGER 🚀🔥
A ridiculous, unbalanced missile buried with venom into the bottom right corner 🎯
𝐌𝐂𝐄 1 – 2 𝐋𝐈𝐎 #HeartPridePassion | #NPLQLD
— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) September 13, 2025
Matt Acton made an outstanding save from a sharp angle to deny the equaliser, and Hassan Ramazani made a goal-saving header late in the game as Moreton City Excelsior looked to throw everything forward in desperation. Emmett Shaw made a sliding challenge to prevent a dangerous cross in stoppage time. The final whistle blew, and our Lions Men celebrated a record fifth NPL Championship title.
𝟓𝐱 𝐍𝐏𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 🖐️🏆
Jack Skinner’s second-half strike secures our 𝙁𝙄𝙁𝙏𝙃 NPL Championship title, and our third at Perry Park 🦁
Congratulations to Darren Sime and our Lions Men 👏#HeartPridePassion pic.twitter.com/h6SnCdUe9B
— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) September 13, 2025
Congratulations to Darren Sime, Dan Barber, and our Lions Men on a remarkable milestone. Our fourth win against Moreton City Excelsior in Cup & Grand Finals. Five NPL Grand Final wins. Another famous night at Perry Park.
MATCH DETAILS
NPL Men: Grand Final
Moreton City Excelsior 1 – 2 Lions FC
Perry Park
Goalscorers:
5′ Joe Duckworth
72′ Jack Skinner
