OUR U23 LIONS WOMEN WIN THEIR FIFTH STRAIGHT NPL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A PENALTY SHOOTOUT VICTORY OVER BRISBANE CITY
In a rematch of last year’s U23s NPLW Grand Final, our U23 Lions Women started with intensity, chasing a phenomenal fifth consecutive Championship title.
With a 2-0 win, a 2-0 defeat, and a 2-2 draw in our three meetings this year, our U23 Lions Women started the game with positivity. Daisey Bateman saw an early first-time effort redirected for a corner, and Emily Clark made an outstanding diving save, firmly catching a powerful effort that was aimed towards the top left corner!
There were few chances across the opening twenty-five minutes, until Lizzie Drummond intervened. Literally creating something out of nothing, Lizzie picked up possession deep in her own half, surging down the centre of the Brisbane City defence before bearing down on the keeper and clipping a composed effort beyond reach from the left side of the box!
25′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
Lizzie Drummond does it ON HER OWN!!! 🔥
Starting in her own half, surging down the heart of the City defence, and finishing calmly from close range 👏
𝐁𝐂𝐘 0 – 1 𝐋𝐈𝐎#HeartPridePassion | #NPLWQLD
— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) September 14, 2025
We pushed for our second with momentum in our favour, and Syeira Collard came agonisingly close; her effort was blocked by the first defender after Ellie Kirkby reacted to a goalkeeping error and squared the ball.
A ricocheted clearance somehow deflected beyond the keeper, bouncing into the underside of the crossbar, but Lizzie Drummond was unable to redirect the ball inside the left post. We entered the break leading 1-0 at Heath Park.
Very quickly after the restart, Brisbane City found their equaliser. A front-post corner nodded downwards from point-blank range, and it was game on in the Grand Final!
Tonia-Marie Rantucci came close to finding the breakthrough, slicing across her marker before firing a sharp effort towards the bottom right corner. Her strike was deflected wide for a corner, and our U23 Women continued to push for a breakthrough.
We looked the better team heading into the 70th minute, and it felt inevitable that the go-ahead goal would materialise. Daisey Bateman curled a powerful first-time shot over the top right corner, and Ellie Kirky swung a close-range half-volley over the crossbar after a sweeping cross from Daisey!
Lizzie Drummond manufactured one of our strongest chances of the game late on, surging down the right flank and firing a fierce effort over the crossbar from close range. Danger struck in stoppage time, but Teliyah Mafi made an incredible last-ditch tackle to prevent a deadly shot.
The final whistle blew, and we stepped into Extra Time.
There were limited chances in the first half, with Evie Schultz’s firm effort sailing over the crossbar from distance. In one of our finest moves of the game, Teliyah Mafi picked Evie’s run with a brilliant aerial long ball. Her sharp cross met Chloe Kerswell in the centre of the box, but her effort was directed straight into the path of the goalkeeper.
In the second half, Chloe Kerswell stung the keeper’s path with a searing strike across the goal. With minutes remaining, Ellie Kirkby cut inside and dropped her defender, forcing another fine save with a curling effort towards the far post!
Inseparable after 120 minutes, the game was to be decided on penalties.
Chloe Kerswell, Eliza Hoyling, Molly Simonson, Ellie Kirkby, and Alyssa Hair made no mistake from the spot. And with Brisbane City stepping up to take their final spot-kick, Emily Clark stepped up bigger, making a stunning diving save to win the Grand Final!
EMILY CLARK WINS THE SHOOTOUT 🔥👏🦁
Chloe Kerswell 🟢
Brisbane City 🟢
Eliza Hoyling 🟢
Brisbane City 🟢
Molly Simonson 🟢
Brisbane City 🟢
Ellie Kirkby 🟢
Brisbane City 🟢
Alyssa Hair 🟢
Brisbane City ❌️ (SAVE!!!)𝐁𝐂𝐘 1 (4) – (5) 1 𝐋𝐈𝐎#HeartPridePassion | #NPLWQLD
— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) September 14, 2025
An incredible finale to a blockbuster Brisbane Classico Grand Final, and our U23s Lions Women lift a stunning fifth consecutive Championship title. Total dominance. Congratulations to Kelly Crew, Nic Whiteside, and our U23s Lions Women on a monumental milestone, and thank you to all of our loyal Lions FC supporters for bringing the noise at Heath Park!
𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐖 🖐️🏆
Lizzie Drummond’s stunning solo effort in the first half, five pinpoint spot kicks, and Emily Clark’s incredible penalty save secures our 𝙁𝙄𝙁𝙏𝙃 consecutive U23s NPL Women’s Championship title 🦁#HeartPridePassion pic.twitter.com/Gw7gbgoY2r
— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) September 14, 2025
MATCH DETAILS
U23 NPL Women: Grand Final
Brisbane City 1 (4) – (5) 1 Lions FC
Heath Park
Goalscorers:
25′ Lizzie Drummond
