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QUALIFYING FINAL
Redlands United 1:3 Wolves FC
Wolves put the disappointment of finishing second in the home and away season behind them and booked their ticket to the 2012 BPL Grand Final.
Everyone will be talking about…
The manner of the win. Sam Saif’s men outclassed the same outfit that pipped them to the league title by a single point and they did it in Redlands’ own backyard – where the Devils had gone on a six-game unbeaten streak dating back to May.
Yeah, but what happened?
The newly crowned league champions started off well enough by taking the lead through Cameron Draper six minutes from the break. That seemed to wake Wolves from a slumber and Eric Frazier made sure the sides would go in all square at half time. Wolves showed composure and finals experience in the second 45 – something Redlands lacked on the night and were made to pay for. Sasa Radulovic struck almost immediately after the restart and Trent Clulow booked the visitor’s a Grand Final spot midway through the half.
The numbers:
Redlands – Draper ‘39
Wolves – Frazier ’45; Radulovic ’48; Clulow ‘72
ELIMINATION FINAL 1
Rochedale Rovers 2:1 Lions FC
A resolute display by Rochedale dumped Lions out of the finals and ensured Rovers would march on to the semis.
Everyone will be talking about…
Double in a double. Two quick goals in two breathtaking minutes around the hour mark secured Rochedale another shot at glory and demoralised an in-form Lions outfit who to that moment looked confident of staging an upset.
Yeah, but what happened?
Lions seemed well organised and compact in the back third for the majority of the first hour, shutting Rochedale out to the frustration of the home crowd. But two consecutive defence splitting crosses from Carl Tabulo from the right flank split Lions’ defence and presented Keenan Duimpies and Reuben Way with simple tap-ins that they duly converted. Lions never really recovered after that and Pablo Aviles’ late goal proved a mere consolation and an end to a fine season back in the BPL.
The numbers:
Rochedale – Duimpies ’59; Way ‘60
Lions – Aviles ‘88
ELIMINATION FINAL 2
Peninsula Power 2:0 Eastern Suburbs
Two late strikes took Peninsula through to a semi-final showdown with Rochedale and sent a devastated Easts side packing for 2012.
Everyone will be talking about…
Power’s ability to dig deep in the last five minutes. Up against a stubborn Easts outfit that looked every match for the hosts on the day, Power had just that little bit extra in the tank to steal the match.
Yeah, but what happened?
An even contest looked to be going down to the wire at AJ Kelly Field and extra-time was on the cards until two moments of magic from Power’s attacking dynamo Xavier Lopez. First, the pacy winger picked up a loose pass from Apai Ukuno and delivered a pin-point low cross for Myles Carseldine to tap in. Moments after, Lopez did it all himself as he brilliantly flicked a long-ball over an Easts’ defender and ran through to coolly finish the game and Easts’ season. He's truly a frightening prospect for Rochedale.
The numbers:
Power – Carseldine ’86; Lopez ‘89
What's to Come:
SEMI-FINAL
Peninsula Power - Rochedale Rovers
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Redlands United - Winner of Semi-Final
GRAN FINAL
Wolves FC - Winner of Preliminary Final