NPL Men’s Semi-Final: We Punish The Premiers and Advance to the Grand Final

LIONS MEN SHOW IMMENSE RESILIENCE AND GRIT TO DEFEAT THE PREMIERS AT THE CROATIAN SPORTS CENTRE

Luke Broderick’s first-half penalty proved decisive as our Lions Men outclassed Gold Coast Knights to advance to the NPL Grand Final.

As usual when we face the Knights, the opening stages were an end-to-end affair that saw shots, fouls, and blistering intensity. Jackson Hart-Phillips kept Godfrey Debele quiet on the flank, while Jack Skinner and Finn Beakhurst created constant danger on either flank.

Jack Skinner created our best chance of the half, breaking into the box and creating space with silky footwork to beat his marker. His close-range shot was dragged sharply across the face of our goal as our Lions Men continued to threaten in transition.

On the stroke of half-time, Luke Broderick was brought down in the box, and our Lions were awarded a penalty. Coming up clutch as he so often does, Luke buried a powerful spot-kick straight down the centre to break the deadlock.

45+1′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!

Luke Broderick thunders his penalty down the centre to break a tense deadlock 😤🔥

𝐆𝐂𝐊 0 – 1 𝐋𝐈𝐎 #HeartPridePassion | #NPLQLD

— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) August 31, 2024

We entered the interval with a 1-0 lead.

The second half was a rigorous affair. Knights ramped up the pressure, but so did we. Our defence remained impenetrable, and the hosts struggled to create any serious threat.

Finn Beakhurst almost doubled our lead after the hour, bursting towards the byline with blistering speed before arrowing a fierce strike wide across the face of the goal. Another intricate move saw Jack Skinner slip into the box, but his close-range strike was blocked firmly by the keeper.

Cardiff Pond made a reactive double save at his near post before making another pivotal save in the final stages after a hectic scramble inside our box. We continued to manage the game, preventing the frustrated Premies from threatening our lead.

The full-time whistle blew with relief, and our Lions Men advance to Suncorp Stadium for their third Grand Final of the year.

An incredible effort to dispatch the Premiers with such control, especially following a week that saw us lift the Kappa Queensland Cup trophy and host the Western Sydney Wanderers in the Australia Cup Round of 16.

We will end our season at Suncorp, hoping to secure a third trophy in what will be our 40th game of the year. An incredible effort, given the players and coaches all have full-time jobs and study commitments outside of their footballing responsibilities.

Congratulations boys, you’re been incredible this year.