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University of Queensland 1:0 Souths United
A last gasp David Loic goal handed UQ BPL safety for another season and condemned already relegated Souths to their 23rd loss of the season.
Everyone will be talking about…
Loic’s heroics at the end. With two minutes left on the clock, UQ were staring down the barrel of handing Souths United only their second draw and fifth point of the season. Up stepped the inspirational attacker to notch what is a season-saving goal.
Yeah, but what happened?
UQ always looked the likelier to score but numerous spurned opportunities and low confidence after a dreadful second half of the season seemed to stand in their way, before Loic’s defining strike.
The numbers:
UQ – Loic ‘88
Looking ahead...
UQ are safe and will look to end a frustrating season on a high when they travel to Lions next week. Souths’ season has been one of the worst in BPL history and they’ll be glad it’s all over after they host Capalaba.
North Star 2:1 Rochedale Rovers
An inspired performance by North Star has seen them overcome a heavily fancied Rochedale side to keep their slim chances of BPL survival alive.
Everyone will be talking about…
Star’s defensive performance. On a night when Rochedale’s finishing was far from their best, Star’s backline kept its shape and denied one of the Grand Final favourites what pre-match might have seemed like a routine victory.
Yeah, but what happened?
A dream eight-minute spell before the hour mark of the match saw Star fans glazing at the scoreboard in disbelief. Their side was 2-0 up, thanks to goals from Alex Hastings and Matthew Heath. John Thompson pulled one back for Rovers with 20 minutes on the clock, but a dramatic final stanza saw the hosts cling on to the victory.
The numbers:
Star – Hastings ’53; Heath ‘61
Rovers – Thompson ‘71
Looking ahead...
The win means Star’s matchup at Taringa next week will be a relegation showdown – with Star needing nothing less than a win to avoid the drop. Rochedale host Olympic, knowing they will finish the home and away season in fourth.
Eastern Suburbs 1:2 Wolves FC
Wolves jumped to the top of the BPL table, albeit temporarily, with a hard fought 2-1 victory on the road at Easts.
Everyone will be talking about…
Wolves’ new American import – Erik Frazier. He took no more than seven minutes to get off the mark in the match and will be a man to watch during the finals.
Yeah, but what happened?
With news that much celebrated coach Alan Hunter will be parting ways with Easts at the end of the season, the home faithful witnessed an impressive display by the Tigers, although they a killer instinct in the final third. Controlling most of the game, Easts’ hopes vanished when Nathan Reardon doubled the visitors’ advantage with fifteen minutes to play. The Heath Park crowd did get a chance to cheer on Brendan Lewandowski’s late goal, although by then the result was all but sealed.
The numbers:
Easts – Lewandowski ‘90+5
Wolves – Frazier ‘7; Reardon ‘74
Looking ahead...
One of the most exciting home and away season finishes in recent BPL history will see Wolves walk out on Carmichael Park next week trailing Redlands by a point and facing a Peninsula Power side themselves still within a chance of lifting the title. Easts could well aid Wolves or Power to the league race if they beat Redlands next week, otherwise Tigers will be sweating on Olympic’s trip to Rochedale as a possible hindrance to their finals aspirations.
North Pine 1:2 Lions FC
Lions FC produced a blistering opening ten minutes to take the match out of Pine’s hands and put one foot in the finals.
Everyone will be talking about…
Lions’ finals chances. Judging on the opening period of the game, Graham Ross’ troops are as good a chance as any to storm all the way to the Grand Final. But their lack of ability to kill off a wounded North Pine stood out, as the hosts brought themselves back into the game and could have snatched a result.
Yeah, but what happened?
Lions typified their name right from the start – they hunted down a stunned Pine side that knew a loss could result in relegation. Quick strikes by Matija Simic and Zachary Tully within eight minutes of kick-off had the visitors cruising. But Pine steadily worked themselves back into the game, although they could not follow up Jake Keslake’s strike just shy of the hour. Pine’s frustration grew and in the end they were reduced to ten men after Hayden Esdale was given his marching orders by referee Jason Crow.
The numbers:
Pine – Keslake ‘59
Lions – Simic ‘4; Tully ‘8
Looking ahead...
Pine are relegated, making their last round match-up with Brisbane City – themselves without a chance of making the top six – a rather insignificant send-off. Lions only require a draw at home to UQ to guarantee finals football, although their exit can only be made possible by Olympic beating Rochedale on the road.
Peninsula Power 3:2 Brisbane City
A late Anthony Roulston strike capped off a captivating match and kept Peninsula Power’s slim chance of stealing the premiers’ title alive.
Everyone will be talking about…
Power’s late winner. They’re making a habit of it lately and produced a dramatic finish once again to the relief of the home faithful.
Yeah, but what happened?
City, playing for their season with a slim chance of squeezing into the top six, came from behind twice but in the end ran out of steam as Power’s desperation prevailed. The hosts took the lead twice through the first half, first through Lewis Bonar and then Josh Ahern. But almost immediate replies by Steven Chester and Antonio Murray meant the teams went into the break deadlocked. Power pressed relentlessly for a winner and got their just reward five minutes from time.
The numbers:
Power – Bonar ’15; Ahern ’24; Roulston ‘85
City – Chester ’19; Murray ‘41
Looking ahead...
The victory means Power can claim the 2012 BPL league title next week if they defeat Wolves on the road and Easts do them a favour in beating Redlands. Chances are slim, but it certainly makes for a nail-biting finish, while City can start regrouping for next season – their chase for a top six spot over.
Olympic FC 1:5 Redlands United
Redlands thrashed hosts Olympic in emphatic fashion to maintain their one-point lead at the summit and send out a frightening message to chasers Wolves and Peninsula Power.
Everyone will be talking about…
Redlands as the best team in the BPL. They’re the league’s top goalscorers and shone again – notching five past an in-form Olympic side playing for a finals spot.
Yeah, but what happened?
A frantic opening by the visitors did not yield a goal until five minutes from half-time, when Golden Boot certainty Graham Fyfe drilled home. Once the first went in, the flood gates opened and the Devils proved greedy guests. Fyfe doubled his tally soon after the break, before Scott Bow wrapped up the result. Olympic were well and truly outplayed on their own turf, but managed to grab a goal through Craig Slaughter, who pounced on a loose ball from a corner. The scoring didn’t stop - for the visitors that is - with George Barbarouses and Jheison Macuace rounding off a comprehensive victory.
The numbers:
Olympic – Slaughter ‘68
Redlands – Fyfe ’40, ’48; Bow ’57; Barbarouses ’70; Macuace ‘71
Looking ahead...
Redlands have one hand on the Veto League trophy and will be strongly backed to overcome Easts at Cleveland Showgrounds next week to secure the title in front of their home fans. Olympic will find it hard to recover from this one – a win at Rochedale is their only chance of a passage to the finals.
Capalaba 2:1 Taringa Rovers
A frantic last ten minutes saw three goals shared and Capalaba claim all three points as the Dogs look to end their season on a high.
Everyone will be talking about…
What could have been. The home crowd was vociferous at full time, but there’s a feeling of nostalgia running through John Fredericks Park. Trailing sixth-placed Easts by three points and an inferior goal difference of 13, Capalaba may come agonisingly close to finals football, but are realistically in need of a miracle.
Yeah, but what happened?
A game of few chances at either end came to live in the closing ten minutes. First, Josh Sherwood opened the scoring from the spot with what at the time seemed like a certain winner. The night got better for Capalaba when Antony Schiavo doubled their lead four minutes later. But to the crowd’s amazement, Alistair Pace got one back for Taringa, although it was the last piece in a mind-bobbling ten minute puzzle.
The numbers:
Capalaba – Josh Sherwood ‘81(pen); Schiavo ‘85
Rovers – Pase ‘88
Looking ahead...
Capalaba need to demolish Souths next week and rely on three other results to go their way, making their finals aspirations a mere dream. Taringa will be living on a knife’s edge, they play host to North Star in a winner-takes-all clash that will decide who stays up and who plummets down to Division One.
