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Disappointed with the team’s first half efforts, Strikers head coach, David Large gave his players a fair spray at the break,
“I wasn’t very happy. I just felt that our shape in the middle of the park was all over the show. We were like 6 year old kids running around chasing a ball,” he said.
But it seemed to pay off with a much-improved display from his players in the second half,
“I just put a little bit more organisation back into things that we know that we can do, and made sure we didn’t break the lines and I just thought our passages went a lot better from there.”
In front of a vocal crowd at Perry Park on Monday afternoon, the Round 2 catch-up match (which was postponed in March due to poor ground conditions) saw the seasoned veterans of the QSL, Brisbane Strikers, up against the young blood of QAS.
Having been defeated by Strikers two weeks earlier, QAS were equally determined to perform well.
But in just the second minute of the match QAS’ tall ‘keeper Matthew Stein was being tested by Brisbane’s top goal-scorer, Matt Thurtell.
In the beginning of the match, Strikers looked the more composed in possession, led at the back by their big defensive line. Most of QAS’ early chances were coming on the counter attack, but as Academy slowly built in confidence, they began to dominate proceedings.
Pacey bursts from Academy's Kwame Yeboah and Brandon Borrello on the wings were setting up chances for Elliot Ronto in the box. In the 15th minute Yeboah had the best opportunity for a goal after a precise cross from Borrello, but his shot was misdirected.
As QAS’ attacking options were building up, they looked most likely to score first, if not for Brisbane's scrambling defence on the goal line and some quality saves from ‘keeper Brendan White.
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| QAS looked most likely to score in the first half |
Thurtell was kept quiet in attack, but sloppy passing from Academy’s defence, gifted more chances to Strikers than they probably deserved.
Both sides became increasingly frustrated with the 0-0 deadlock and there were many a free kick awarded either way as a result. A scuffle between players was interrupted by the referee just before the break, following Brisbane’s captain Chris Di Sipio being brought to the ground by Academy’s James Donachie.
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| Tensions flared during the deadlock |
Still, the match remained scoreless at the conclusion of the first half.
Brisbane seemed rejuvenated at the restart and pushed the ball deep into QAS’ half. They began playing more aggressive and free-flowing football, making QAS look like amateurs in comparison.
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| It was a physical encounter between the two teams |
Then in the 47th minute Jacob McLean, who was having an excellent match for QAS, clumsily pushed Thurtell in the back, causing the Striker to fall in the penalty area. McLean was yellow carded and the referee pointed to the spot, where Thurtell easily converted, placing the ball in the top right hand corner of the net.
Minutes later a high bouncing ball was met on the edge of box by the colliding QAS ‘keeper, defender and Brisbane’s Thurtell, who put the slightest touch on the ball to see it dribble into the net. Academy coach Darren Davies was fuming on the sidelines, calling for a foul on the ‘keeper. But the goal remained, giving Brisbane a 2-0 lead.
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| Strikers captain Chris Di Sipio |
In what topped off an exciting 15 minutes, from close range, Sean Burke knocked in the Strikers’ third goal of the afternoon soon after.
QAS managed to get on the offensive once again in the latter part of the match, but Brisbane goalkeeper Brendan White kept coming up with the crucial saves to keep QAS scoreless.
Large praised the Strikers ‘keeper, who has been steadily improving in recent matches,
“Brendan has come a long way in these last three or four weeks,” Large said.
“I think the fact that he’s been training full time with the Gold Coast A-League team has certainly given him a different dimension. He still worries me a tiny bit on his crosses but all in all we’ve picked up nine points in these last three games and we can thank Brendan for some very solid performances as part of that.”