Our Lions Men mounted a late fightback against Peninsula Power, but were forced to accept a 3-2 defeat in a challenging and rainy battle on the road.
We made the trip to AJ Kelly Park under pouring rain for an ANZAC Day contest in the NPL.
An ideal start favoured the hosts, with Peninsula Power striking inside the opening five minutes to break the deadlock. A sharp strike into the bottom left corner.
Straight from kickoff, we almost responded. A spell of possession saw Jackson Hart-Phillips and Rahmat Akbari link up down the left, with an eventual pass meeting Harvey Pope on the edge of the box. His effort curved narrowly wide of the far post.
The response, still, was swift. Alex Fiechtner was slipped off the shoulder on the right side of the box, cutting onto his left foot curtly and curling a calm effort into the inside left-post with precision.
10′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
Alex Fiechtner is playing into space, and you know he doesn’t miss. We’re level at AJ Kelly Park 🔥
𝐏𝐄𝐍 1 – 1 𝐋𝐈𝐎#HeartPridePassion | #NPLQLD pic.twitter.com/OG9aUzpTlu
— Lions FC (@lionsfc1) April 25, 2026
Heavy rainfall began soon after, and the fast-paced nature of the game intensified as both teams traded chances in search of a breakthrough.
Alex Fiechtner was sliced down inside the box and somehow denied a spotkick, and right on the half-hour mark, Peninusla Power reinstated their lead. Attacking down the right flank, a whipped cross was pounced on at the back post, and we entered the break trailing 2-1.
Two minutes after the restart, Power were awarded a penalty. It was dispatched calmly, and our already difficult challenge became that much tougher.
Mitch Hore forced a save with a strong shot from distance, and our Lions Men managed possession effectively as they looked to carve out chances against a now more defensive opponent.
Cher Deng saw two well-timed headers miss the target by inches, and our Lions Men continued to unleash shot after shot in search of a lifeline. Our only reward for our efforts was a large sum of corners.
A great run from Tuquiri Beckett saw him drift past two defenders before slipping Alex off the right shoulder, but his tight-angled shot flashed across the face of goal, missing the target by inches.
Within a minute of that chance, he reacted inside the box to redirect Cher Deng’s header over the keeper and into the back of the net. Seven minutes remained to find an equaliser.
83′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
Alex Fiechtner pulls us back into the game with a crisp header. Game on in Redcliffe 😤
𝐏𝐄𝐍 3 – 2 𝐋𝐈𝐎#HeartPridePassion | #NPLQLD pic.twitter.com/LptldFohhG
— Lions FC (@lionsfc1) April 25, 2026
A handful of late chances went begging as we fought desperately for the equaliser. Tuquiri Beckett sliced inside onto his left foot and saw a strong effort blocked, and Luke Broderick guided a brilliant half-volley millimetres shy of the bottom right corner. We threw everything we had at the Power goal, but the hosts held strong to secure a 3-2 victory.
Our attention now turns to Friday Nights Kappa Pro Series Final at Goodwin Park.
NPL Men: Round 9
Peninsula Power 3 – 2 Lions FC
Goalscorers:
Alex Fiechtner 10′, 83′
𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 | A thrilling final ten minutes as we hunted the equaliser. We leave empty-handed, but showed fight and character in a well-contested ANZAC Day clash at AJ Kelly Park.#HeartPridePassion pic.twitter.com/vbIbpqgMG9
— Lions FC (@lionsfc1) April 25, 2026
