NPLW R6, NPLM R4
LIONS WOMEN SURMOUNT A LATE COMEBACK AGAINST A BRAVE GOLD COAST UNITED SIDE WHILE OUR LIONS MEN DIG IN FOR A GRITTY & HARDFOUGHT VICTORY.
After our Lionesses appeared to be on the receiving end of an inspired late comeback from the hosts (after we had come from behind ourselves), we showed character and belief to score twice in the final minutes to flip the game in our favour. Our Lions Men fought hard in a late Sunday match-up at Redcliffe, holding on against an attacking Roar Youth side to see out a narrow victory.
GOLD COAST UNITED VS LIONS: NPL WOMEN
A resilient response in a goal-laden second half saw our Lionesses come from behind twice, sealing a crucial victory deep in stoppage time.
Our Lionesses had work to do after the break following an effective set-piece from Gold Coast United to put the hosts ahead. We responded. Just three minutes into the second half Macey Edward poked home the equaliser after an excellent team move. Ten minutes later she put us ahead with an accurate first-time strike from the centre of the box.
We looked set to see out a narrow victory until the 80th minute ticked over, and chaos unravelled. A stunning long-range strike that ricocheted off the crossbar saw the hosts break even, before a rapid restart saw United awarded a penalty within two minutes. Hayashi drilled her strike into the top corner and suddenly we looked set for defeat.
In a demonstration of the never-say-die attitude that our ladies have long embodied, we struck level through a powerful Tegan Riding penalty with three minutes left to play. Then came Amy Gunston. Back from injury with a goal last weekend, a swift drive down the left flank saw Gunston guide a left-footed strike deep into the bottom right corner in the 93rd minute to secure an iconic victory that may shape the rest of our season.
BRISBANE ROAR YOUTH VS LIONS: NPL MEN
A first-half goal from Fenton and a tenacious defensive performance saw us dig in for a hard-fought victory in a physical encounter.
We hit the ground running in Redcliffe, applying pressure in the final third until Louis Fenton broke the deadlock with a moment of brilliance. Progressing the ball forward from his own half, Fenton broke into the Roar box, steering a cross with his body before subtly rolling it into the bottom let corner at the near post.
That would be the only goal of the game as Roar ramped up the pressure, drawing us into an end-to-end encounter that was defined by yellow cards and critical defensive actions. Ryo Ono came close to doubling our advantage in the second half while Aiden Munford came up clutch with a few crucial saves.
Jean Carlos Solórzano almost sealed the game within 30 seconds of stepping onto the pitch, but it was the combined efforts of a tirelessly working back-line that saw prevent Roar from creating anything meaningful in a conservative second half.
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