NPLW R1: We Surge To 3 Points After A Brilliant Start

THREE GOALS INSIDE TWELVE MINUTES SAW OUR LIONS WOMEN DEFEAT QAS IN A CONTROLLED AND ASSERTIVE PERFORMANCE

An utterly dominant start to our 2025 campaign saw our Lions Women lead 3-0 inside the first twelve minutes of action.

Scarlett Premerl broke the deadlock inside four minutes, driving off the right shoulder and ripping a bouncing strike under the keeper and into the far side netting.

4′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!

Scarlett Premerl fires home our first goal of the 2025 season 🎯🔥

A great run off the shoulder met with a fierce strike across goal and under the keeper!

𝐐𝐀𝐒 0 – 1 𝐋𝐈𝐎 #HeartPridePassion | #NPLWQLD

— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) February 8, 2025

Shianne Rosselli scored her first goal for Lions FC just two minutes later, rising at the back post and guiding a dipping header over the keeper and inside the far post. Rachel Dudley also scored her first goal in Lions colours, slotting home from close range after a sharp cross from Scarlett Premerl!

6′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!

Shianne Rosselli scores her first goal in Lions colours and doubles our advantage with a looping header over the keeper 👏

𝐐𝐀𝐒 0 – 2 𝐋𝐈𝐎 #HeartPridePassion | #NPLWQLD

— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) February 8, 2025

Elli Chapple was forced to make a fine diving save at her near post, and Mackenzie Nielsen stung the keepers palms with a freekick as we looked to score a fourth before half-time.

We piled on the pressure in the final ten minutes. Meaghan McElligott unleashed a rocket from distance and forced a critical save, and Tonia-Marie Rantucci clipped the woodwork from close range after a whipped cross from Meaghan McElligott was whipped into her path. We entered the interval with a 3-0 lead.

QAS looked more organised heading into the second half. Elli Chapple was forced to make an early save as they looked to recover a goal. We almost added our fourth through Rachel Dudley, who tried her chip the keeper from the edge of the box, but saw her audacious effort tipped over the woodwork at the final moment.

We maintained control over possession for much of the second half, limiting QAS from entering our half while continuing to knock on the door of a much more defensive side. Scarlett Premerl came close as her improvised backheel flick bounced wide.

The full-time whistle blew, and we left the field with a comprehensive victory to kickstart what looks certain to be a competitive 2025 season.

Our U23s Women also faced QAS earlier this afternoon, but were defeated 4-1 by the home side. Chloe Kerswell scored our only goal.