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Brisbane Strikers produced a professional performance on Saturday night to overcome the Queensland Academy of Sport 4-1 at Meakin Park.
Two goals inside three second-half minutes ended a contest which was at times threatening to swing the way of a QAS upset, as the league leaders’ killer instinct saw them collect a crucial three points.
The Queensland State League’s only remaining Brisbane Derby produced an early goal for the visitors courtesy of Strikers livewire Chris Di Sipio in the 4th minute, as Matt Thurtell’s free header from a corner just minutes earlier failed to wake the Academy defence. It was league-top-scorer Thurtell who turned provider this time around, working past his marker from the right of the penalty area and cutting a pass back for the unmarked Di Sipio to slide a simple finish into the near-post. The QAS desperately needed a strong start to the game but giving time and space to the Strikers’ quality front-pairing was fraught with peril.
A couple of teasing left-wing crosses shortly after the opener from the boot of Brisbane wide-midfielder Greg King almost found a stretching Thurtell before similarly eluding Di Sipio, nonetheless highlighting a potential area of success for the Strikers.
The QAS had begun to find rhythm in their play though, and came close to an equaliser as a piece of outstanding control from Brandon Borrello took him past fullback Jack Boxell to tee up a strike which shaved the outside of the top corner. A slip in the penalty area denied Kwame Yeboah a clear shot on goal for the Academy soon after, but they didn’t have to wait much longer for their pressing to be rewarded.
When a pass was fed out to the right-wing for Alistair Quinn to run onto the fullback whipped a world class cross behind the Strikers defence first-time for diminutive midfielder Ben Liftin to meet on the run and power a point-blank header despite the efforts of ‘keeper David Chambers.
The equaliser was deserved reward for a sustained period of pressure and when captain Jack Baden volleyed narrowly wide it appeared Josh McCloughan’s young stars would end the half having edged their more experienced counterparts.
However, they were again stung by a familiar lapse in concentration. The QAS midfield and defence had begun to sag dangerously deep amidst a few minutes of Strikers retaliation and paid a heavy price four minutes from the break. Thurtell was again involved when he slipped right-midfielder Josh Searle through the home side’s defence, sitting back on their penalty area, and into space to finish firmly into the far corner.
Strikers skipper John Costello then headed over when the QAS’ marking at corners would have again infuriated their boss and former A-League defender McCloughan, before two more chances for the visitors meant they were fortunate to leave the pitch just a goal down.
The youngsters resumed proceedings hoping to rediscover the control they had exerted through the middle parts of the first-half but an early equaliser failed to materialise as a goalmouth scramble couldn’t be prodded home and Borrello’s off-balance strike failed to beat the reactions of Chambers.
Borrello and Yeboah – of which the former’s pace was proving to be the Academy’s main attacking outlet, while the latter never found a way into the match – then blew a two-on-one situation as the flurry of missed half-chances seemed to trample their hopes of getting back on level terms.
The minutes ticked by without incident before Brisbane finally broke away with two goals inside three minutes to cement an efficient victory. The QAS’ troubles defending set-pieces finally cost them a goal in the 75th minute when Greg King’s driven free-kick from deep inside the Strikers’ half was cleverly headed into the far corner by a seemingly surprised Thurtell. The outstanding King then supplied another, this time getting around his marker to provide a cutback for Di Sipio to sweep a carbon copy of his first goal low across Stein.
Good saves from either ‘keeper kept the score intact until the final whistle, though not before a little spice was added with the QAS’ Ross Archibald and Brisbane’s Sean Burke exchanging words.
It could be argued that the final 4-1 scoreline reflected harshly on the home side as they had competed equally for much of the contest, but will have to correct their defensive naivety if they are to turn performance into results against the league’s top teams. The Strikers, meanwhile, will be rightfully pleased with a three-goal win over the QSL’s form team.
Two goals inside three second-half minutes ended a contest which was at times threatening to swing the way of a QAS upset, as the league leaders’ killer instinct saw them collect a crucial three points.
The Queensland State League’s only remaining Brisbane Derby produced an early goal for the visitors courtesy of Strikers livewire Chris Di Sipio in the 4th minute, as Matt Thurtell’s free header from a corner just minutes earlier failed to wake the Academy defence. It was league-top-scorer Thurtell who turned provider this time around, working past his marker from the right of the penalty area and cutting a pass back for the unmarked Di Sipio to slide a simple finish into the near-post. The QAS desperately needed a strong start to the game but giving time and space to the Strikers’ quality front-pairing was fraught with peril.
A couple of teasing left-wing crosses shortly after the opener from the boot of Brisbane wide-midfielder Greg King almost found a stretching Thurtell before similarly eluding Di Sipio, nonetheless highlighting a potential area of success for the Strikers.
The QAS had begun to find rhythm in their play though, and came close to an equaliser as a piece of outstanding control from Brandon Borrello took him past fullback Jack Boxell to tee up a strike which shaved the outside of the top corner. A slip in the penalty area denied Kwame Yeboah a clear shot on goal for the Academy soon after, but they didn’t have to wait much longer for their pressing to be rewarded.
When a pass was fed out to the right-wing for Alistair Quinn to run onto the fullback whipped a world class cross behind the Strikers defence first-time for diminutive midfielder Ben Liftin to meet on the run and power a point-blank header despite the efforts of ‘keeper David Chambers.
The equaliser was deserved reward for a sustained period of pressure and when captain Jack Baden volleyed narrowly wide it appeared Josh McCloughan’s young stars would end the half having edged their more experienced counterparts.
However, they were again stung by a familiar lapse in concentration. The QAS midfield and defence had begun to sag dangerously deep amidst a few minutes of Strikers retaliation and paid a heavy price four minutes from the break. Thurtell was again involved when he slipped right-midfielder Josh Searle through the home side’s defence, sitting back on their penalty area, and into space to finish firmly into the far corner.
Strikers skipper John Costello then headed over when the QAS’ marking at corners would have again infuriated their boss and former A-League defender McCloughan, before two more chances for the visitors meant they were fortunate to leave the pitch just a goal down.
The youngsters resumed proceedings hoping to rediscover the control they had exerted through the middle parts of the first-half but an early equaliser failed to materialise as a goalmouth scramble couldn’t be prodded home and Borrello’s off-balance strike failed to beat the reactions of Chambers.
Borrello and Yeboah – of which the former’s pace was proving to be the Academy’s main attacking outlet, while the latter never found a way into the match – then blew a two-on-one situation as the flurry of missed half-chances seemed to trample their hopes of getting back on level terms.
The minutes ticked by without incident before Brisbane finally broke away with two goals inside three minutes to cement an efficient victory. The QAS’ troubles defending set-pieces finally cost them a goal in the 75th minute when Greg King’s driven free-kick from deep inside the Strikers’ half was cleverly headed into the far corner by a seemingly surprised Thurtell. The outstanding King then supplied another, this time getting around his marker to provide a cutback for Di Sipio to sweep a carbon copy of his first goal low across Stein.
Good saves from either ‘keeper kept the score intact until the final whistle, though not before a little spice was added with the QAS’ Ross Archibald and Brisbane’s Sean Burke exchanging words.
It could be argued that the final 4-1 scoreline reflected harshly on the home side as they had competed equally for much of the contest, but will have to correct their defensive naivety if they are to turn performance into results against the league’s top teams. The Strikers, meanwhile, will be rightfully pleased with a three-goal win over the QSL’s form team.