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All four matches of the round were contested over a packed Saturday night.
Bundaberg Spirit 1 – 1 Brisbane Strikers
(Causer 60’) (Thurtell 32’)
The Brisbane Strikers confirmed their second QSL premiership away to Bundaberg with a point enough to put them out of reach with two matches remaining.
Bundaberg striker Elliott Causer levelled the match on the hour mark but the home side were unable to completely overturn Matt Thurtell’s opener, ensuring the former NSL champions left with the point they craved.
As expected, the visitors had to look no further than free-scoring sensation Thurtell to put them on the right path with an ingenious lob of Spirit ‘keeper Jason McEwan giving them the start they needed. Causer responded, however, on sixty minutes with his fifth of the season to put Brisbane on edge for the remaining half hour. The perennial QSL runners-up saw out that period to deservedly savour the title with their travelling supporters.
While the regular season’s work has been a resounding success for the Strikers, coach David Large will know next week’s match at home to North Queensland is just as important in maintaining form ahead of finals. Bundaberg, meanwhile, can leapfrog the QAS into sixth in Sunday’s away trip.
FNQ Bulls 0 – 4 Sunshine Coast Fire
(Frew 14’ Bechar 38’ Muta 65’ Knight 88’)
Sunshine Coast destroyed not only Far North Queensland but also the pre-finals form guide by blowing away the second-placed Bulls 4-0 in Cairns.
The Bulls had been charging towards a finish behind the Strikers after an eight-match unbeaten streak, but were brought crashing back to the pack with a lesson taught by the now fully-repaired Fire.
Signs of a recovery from their damaging mid-season slump had already been exhibited by Sunshine Coast through two successive victories and they took that form reversal to the extreme with a pair of goals in each half at Borzi Park. Young attacker Kaine Frew gave Fire a huge early boost with the opener before winger Nicolas Bechar doubled the lead seven minutes from the break. A further goal each from Papua New Guinea international Cyril Muta, brother of midfielder David, and defender Sam Knight completed the incredible rout.
The result signals a potential rekindling of the reigning champions’ finals rivalry with newly appointed premiers Brisbane and can expect to continue their rise next week in hosting Gold Coast, while the Bulls visit Capricorn in a position still favourable for securing second-place.
Capricorn Cougars 2 – 3 QAS
(Ruthven 20’ Mozr 46’) (Wilkinson 3’ Borrello 31’ Quinn 60’)
An undermanned Queensland Academy of Sport scored a sterling win over Capricorn as they triumphed in an entertaining five-goal affair.
The Cougars twice equalised but could not ultimately prevent the QAS from ending a winless run of five matches at Jardine Park.
Centre-forward Sam Wilkinson opened the scoring for the Academy with a much-needed confidence boost just three minutes into the match, although that goal was ruled out by versatile Cougars captain Troy Ruthven shortly afterwards. A goal each from the two sides’ respective attacking sparks, Brandon Borrello for the Academy and Rudi Mozr for the hosts, saw the scoreline level at 2-2, until clever QAS midfielder Alistair Quinn netted what proved to be the winner on the hour. The victory is arguably the visitors’ best of the season as it came against higher-placed opposition, away from home, and from a form-line of just one point in five weeks.
The two teams remain in a battle for fifth, the first position outside of finals, with the QAS trailing Capricorn by a point as both enjoy the luxury of a home fixture next weekend.
NQ Razorbacks 0 – 3 Whitsunday Miners
(Zappone 6’ Corte 48’ Corbett 61’)
Whitsunday continued to fine tune their pre-finals preparations with a dominant 3-0 away win over lowly North Queensland.
The three points capped an impressive two weeks for the Miners as goals from Matthew Zappone, Jordan Corte and Dan Corbett, his fifth in that period, made it nine goals and consecutive clean sheets from the two fixtures.
Whereas Whitsunday remain in the mix for a home semi-final, recent weeks have been disastrous for the Razorbacks – they were winless in eight matches prior to Saturday night, having conceded eleven goals in the past two. The Miners emphatically prolonged that poor run at Brolga Park by inflicting a fourth straight loss on the hosts, who seem destined to an eighth-place finish.
Whitsunday will spend their bye next weekend hoping at least either of Sunshine Coast or FNQ slip-up, while it doesn’t get any easier for North Queensland as they visit the Strikers.
Gold Coast Stars – BYE