NPLM R15, KWSC SF
Lions Men bounce back after the break to topple Roar 3-1, while our Lionesses secure a third consecutive Kappa Women’s Super Cup Grand Final after an arduous victory over a stubborn Mitchelton outfit.
LIONS VS BRISBANE ROAR YOUTH: NPL MEN
A remarkable turnaround following a stale first half saw our Lions rip through Roar with a resurgence after the break.
Against an in-form Roar Youth side challenging for a place in the top four, we could not have gotten off to a worse start. Playing dangerously around our own box and limited to long balls and hope, our game plan was stifled in the early stages by a determining side.
Fernando Nash put Roar ahead by the fifteenth minute after a bullet cross was poked into the roof of the net with power. We defended well in response, with Luke Borean making a close-range save to prevent Roar from creating more pressure. As it was, we left the first half without creating any meaningful chances in the final third.
That changed after the break.
A sweeping team move was finished with style by Matt Ridenton, who slotted home the leveller from the centre of the box after an attack down the right file.
Within ten minutes of the restart, we had flipped the script, with Joe Duckworth drilling us ahead with a furious strike from the centre of the box.
We collectively dug in and defended with grit. Ivan Ozzi made a notable challenge, sprinting from the final third to the edge of our defending box and making a clean sliding challenge from behind that saw him recover possession without fouling the attacker.
Josh Brindell-South was applauded as he left the pitch, having put in an excellent display on his return debut with our Lions. With five minutes to go, Andy Pengelly put the game to bed with a beautiful half-volley across the goal and into the far side-netting. This was out last home game for some time due to the Women’s World Cup, but our men will be back in action next weekend in the Kappa Pro Series Semi-Final against Gold Coast Knights.
Goalscorers:
48’ | Matt Ridenton
55’ | Joe Duckworth
85’ | Andy Pengelly
HT: LIO 0-1 BRY
FT: LIO 3-1 BRY
LIONS VS MITCHELTON: KAPPA WOMEN’S SUPER CUP
In a game that burst to life after the first half, our Lions were pushed until the 120th minute against a resilient Mitchelton side that would not accept defeat. Meghan McElligott scored the decisive goal in Extra-Time to send us to a third consecutive KWSC Grand Final.
We struggled in the first half against a strong Mitchelton side, who defended effectively in the centre and limited us to attacking through the wider channels. We faced a lot of difficulties creating openings in the centre, with more passes than not facing interceptions and recoveries. It was goalless at the break.
Tegan Riding produced our best chance around the hour mark, forcing a fine diving save as her shot raced towards the top right corner. Five minutes later, we were let off the hook with divine luck as Mitchelton missed an almost open goal from point-blank range. Minutes later, we scrambled to make a goal-line clearance as the hosts piled on the pressure in our defending third.
We made a quadruple substitution to pull control back in our favour, with Cannon Clough returning to our side for the first time since concluding her A-Leagues season with the Newcastle Jets.
Amy Gunston stroked home what looked like the winner, sliding into the box desperately and hooking a loose ball into the deepest point of the bottom left corner with five minutes to play. Mitchelton had other ideas, slotting a calm shot under Emily Clark as the game reached its ninetieth minute.
For the second consecutive KWSC match, we were heading into Extra-Time.
We responded immediately after the restart, with Meghan McElligott restoring our lead with a composed strike from the centre of the box after a blistering attack down the right. We struck the crossbar with five minutes remaining before Mitchelton did the same in the 120th minute to threaten another late equaliser.
We held on with courage in an incredible game of football and are now one game away from a third consecutive Kappa Women’s Super Cup title.
Goalscorers:
84’ | Amy Gunston
94’ | Meghan McElligott
HT: LIO 0-0 MIT
FT: LIO 1-1 MIT
AET: LIO 2-1 MIT
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