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There were important home wins for Peninsula Power and Lions FC, while Saturday afternoon saw Easts and Capalaba turn in dominating displays on the road. The two matches containing four BPL newcomers resulted in Ipswich Knights and Albany Creek collect dramatic, marginal victories.
Peninsula Power 5:1 North Star
Michael Baird stole the show in this year’s BPL opener, bagging a hat-trick
in Power’s dominating win at home to North Star.
Everyone will be talking about…
The former Roar, Glory and Central Coast striker’s performance in the
final third. Marking his BPL comeback with a hat-trick, Baird looks set to be a
prolific addition to Power’s frontline.
Yeah, but what happened?
Peninsula opened their account early on when Warren Moon headed in from
a corner. Richie Hurlin joined him on the scoresheet not long after with a
sumptuous strike from the edge of the box. The Baird-show began soon after, the
striker picking up two goals before the interval and rounding off his hat-trick
with a well taken penalty at the start of the second half. Sam Basnett grabbed
a consolation goal for Star, who displayed a much improved second half performance.
The numbers:
Power – Moon ‘7; Hurlin ’26; Baird ’40, ’44, ‘50(p)
Star – Basnett ‘80
Looking ahead...
Power will expect a bigger test when they travel to Ipswich Knights next
week, while North Star will look to regroup in their first home match against
Albany Creek – who enjoyed a thrilling first game win.
Logan Lightning 2:3 Ipswich Knights
Logan Lightning 2:3 Ipswich Knights
Ipswich fought off a spirited performance by hosts Logan, who came back
twice but could not stop the Knights leaving Cornubia Park with all three
points.
Everyone will be talking about…
The debutants’ ability to adapt to the BPL. In what was a scrappy match
often fought in the middle of the park, fans of both sides – new to the BPL this season –
will be eagerly awaiting their respective teams’ debuts against some of the
league’s benchmark opposition in the coming weeks.
Yeah, but what happened?
The home side showed resilience to come back twice in the first half,
first Blake Cearns cancelling out Igor Sao Jose’s early strike, then Daniel
Clark responding to Mitchell Davis’ goal for Ipswich. In the end, poor
defending from the hosts led to Davis grabbing his brace and the match winner,
after finding himself unmarked in the box and coolly dispatching past Brendan
White.
The numbers:
Logan – Cearns ’17; Clark ‘41
Ipswich – Sao Jose ’13; Davis ’31, ‘56
Looking ahead...
Ipswich will look to maintain a positive start when they host Peninsula
next week, while Logan need to shore up at the back if they are to prove
competitive on the road at Rochedale.
Rochedale Rovers 0:5 Eastern Suburbs
Rochedale Rovers 0:5 Eastern Suburbs
A late three-goal blitz by Easts turned Rochedale’s Saturday afternoon from
disappointing to miserable as they suffered one of their heaviest home defeats
in the BPL.
Everyone will be talking about…
What’s wrong at Rochedale? Last year’s losing Grand Finalists, the ever-consistent
Rovers looked out of sorts in their opening game and were outplayed all over
the park.
Yeah, but what happened?
Easts dominated throughout the match and took their chances expertly.
Goals either side of the interval from Thomas Johnstone and Cody Shorter looked
to have sealed the win, but a late flurry saw Michael Andrews, Jordan Farina
and Carter Glockner all pile further misery on the hosts.
The numbers:
Easts – Johnstone ’35; Shorter ’63; Andrews ’80; Farina 90+2; Glockner ‘90+4
Looking ahead...
Rochedale’s supporters will be anticipating a strong bounce-back when Rovers
entertain league newcomers Logan next week, while Easts will be full of
confidence at home to UQ.
University of Queensland FC 0:5 Capalaba
University of Queensland FC 0:5 Capalaba
Capalaba enjoyed a comfortable afternoon at UQ, running away with the
win with four unanswered goals in the first half.
Everyone will be talking about…
Capalaba’s firepower up front. The Bulldogs’ forwards looked in
devastating form and with Anthony Schiavo and Xavier Lopez grabbing a brace
each, they are in top form heading into next week’s derby with Wolves.
Yeah, but what happened?
It was all over by the interval as first Lopez, then Schiavo netted a
brace each past a disjointed University defence. Versatile midfielder Scott
Sargent completed the drubbing with a strike midway through the second half.
The numbers:
Capalaba – Lopez ’20, ’23; Schiavo ’33, ‘45+1; Sargent ‘64
Looking ahead...
Capalaba lock horns with Brisbane Wolves at Carmichael Park in next
round’s blockbuster match, while UQ may face more defensive headaches when they
travel to free-scoring Easts.
Albany Creek 6:5 Brisbane Force
Albany Creek 6:5 Brisbane Force
Albany Creek prevailed in a 11-goal feast for the eyes as the BPL
welcomed two sides promising bounds of entertainment if this match is anything
to go by.
Everyone will be talking about…
The rollercoaster ride that was. Having gone 3-0 up inside the first 20
minutes, Albany Creek were pegged back to 3-3 by the 50-minute mark. The hosts
then regained a two-goal advantage, only to be pegged back one in the 76th
minute. Albany Creek responded almost immediately by restoring their two-goal
lead, but Force hit back again with five minutes to play. In the end, the
visitors could not find a final equaliser, ending this exhilarating contest
agonisingly short of a result.
Looking ahead...
Albany Creek travel to North Star on a high from this opening day win,
while Brisbane force will have another crack at the cherry at Lions FC.
Lions FC 1:0 Wolves FC
Lions FC 1:0 Wolves FC
A Matija Simic strike in the latter stages of the match saw Lions
overcome last year’s Grand Final winners Wolves FC.
Everyone will be talking about…
Lions’ defensive stability and organisation. Keeping Wolves scoreless is
no easy feat – one not many sides are expected to achieve this season. But
Lions were outstanding at the back and that is exactly where the foundation of
the win came from.
Yeah, but what happened?
In an extremely tight contest where both sides displayed their
well-drilled organisational structure, a share of the spoils would have been
fare. In the end, Matija Simic popped up with the winner with 10 minutes to
play - a decisive contribution in a game of small margins.
The numbers:
Lions – Simic ‘79
Looking ahead...
Lions will be confident going into next week’s match at home to Brisbane
Force, while Wolves have it all to do if they are to get their season rolling
in their derby with Capalaba.
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