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The Razorbacks twice pulled back to within a goal despite trailing 3-0 inside twenty minutes and 4-2 at half-time, testing the fortitude of a QAS outfit without a point in four matches.
A tight encounter was to be expected between two sides level on points in mid-table, making the QAS’ flying start all the more unexpected as the youngsters – without four first-team regulars – reversed their slow-starting form by hitting a stunned Razorbacks with three quick strikes.
Electric winger Brandon Borello was the brightest spark early for the hosts, scoring the first of the afternoon by twisting his marker on the right of the penalty area, cutting inside and firing a laser-like left-footed effort beyond the stretch of NQ ‘keeper Kieran Gonzales and into the far corner.
That opener was greeted by an air of responsibility from the Academy as they seemed determined not to let the early advantage slip. Borrello set the example in this respect, following his solo effort three minutes later by dropping into space and feeding an inch-perfect reverse pass through the Razorbacks defence for Josh Riis to receive and finish coolly. The stunning blitz was not yet over, though, as Borrello tormented fullback Caleb Hobson once more, skipping around the defender and sliding a pass across goal for attacking accomplice Riis to tap-in his second and the QAS’ third in the space of five minutes.
At 3-0 at just the eighteen-minute mark, and with last week’s 6-1 home thumping at the hands of Brisbane fresh in the memory, North Queensland set about reducing both the scoreline and coach Ken Mitchell’s discontent.
When the ball was willed into the QAS penalty area, the Razorbacks were handed a penalty from virtually nothing as defenders and attackers alike slid in to conclude a goalmouth scramble. Bronson Koppen stepped up and converted from the spot to reduce the deficit to two – and notch the game’s fourth goal in twenty-one minutes. It was a start.
And, when a free-kick in the visitors favour was awarded on the edge of the Academy’s penalty area, the Razorbacks unlocked a seemingly secure match. Tall centre-back Ben Richardson took charge and displayed great skill, dipping his shot over the wall and into the bottom near-side corner to cut the hosts’ lead to a single goal. By now it seemed as though any attack was destined to end in a goal, a thought which was again supported eight minutes from the break.
Having seen their three-goal lead reduced to a lone strike, the Academy hit back through a familiar threat as Riis, already sitting on a brace, pounced on a loose ball outside the North Queensland area and struck a sweet first-time effort into the top-left corner to complete his hat-trick and, owing to a great reactionary save from the QAS ‘keeper Vincenzo Napuri, the first-half’s scoring.
The opening stanza’s goal glut could not have been fairly expected to be reproduced in the second-half, but while the first ten minutes were an expectedly quieter affair than the end-to-end forty-five which preceded them, the Razorbacks soon ensured a restless afternoon for their opposition.
A North Queensland attack just shy of the hour seemed to be lacking the width to further trouble the QAS defence until perseverance and a neat interchange of touches around Reece Edmonds freed lively winger Jacob Crowley to sidefoot home from six yards.
Crowley then came close to an equaliser moments later when his close-range shot was well blocked by Napuri, before a fifteen-minute lull was brought to an end when Koppen powered a header onto the crossbar and Jae Eurell’s acrobatic follow-up was blocked in the goalmouth.
The failure to seize that opportunity for a leveller perhaps took an emotional toll on the Razorbacks as QAS captain Jack Bladen fired over with the Academy’s first sight on goal for an extended period. Brandon Borrello, just edging out Riis as the match’s star, followed that warning by sealing the result with the goal of the day. In the final minute of normal time, the clinical attacker was released deep into the North Queensland area via a one-two and, with glorious nonchalance, dinked a delicate finish over the advancing Gonzales for a worthy winner.
That goal capped the afternoon’s scoring at eight goals with a final 5-3 scoreline in favour of the home outfit, whose goals all came courtesy of attacking duo Josh Riis and Brandon Borrello. The victory means the QAS have gained a handy break on North Queensland, moving three points clear in mid-table with a game in hand.