.gif "Sack Attack: An A-League Webcomic")
A string of close matches highlighted Round 8 of the BPL, with league
leaders Lions FC the only team to win by a margin of more than a goal.
Power and Wolves played out an uncharacteristic 0-0 draw on Saturday afternoon, while Rochedale and Logan both went home with a point after 1-1 draws from their respective trips. Easts edged out a disappointed North Star, while Albany Creek and Capalaba dished out a seven-goal thriller.
Power and Wolves played out an uncharacteristic 0-0 draw on Saturday afternoon, while Rochedale and Logan both went home with a point after 1-1 draws from their respective trips. Easts edged out a disappointed North Star, while Albany Creek and Capalaba dished out a seven-goal thriller.
Peninsula Power 0:0 Wolves FC
Power and Wolves played out an eventful goalless draw at AJ Kelly Park,
leaving the visitors undefeated in five games and sitting third on the table.
Everyone will be talking about…
Two solid defensive displays. It was no surprise to see it from Wolves,
who hold the best defensive record in the league. But Power’s effort was
immense, considering the visitors had notched up 23 goals in their past four
outings.
Yeah, but what happened?
Both sides enjoyed chances, but in the end their solid structures and
high pressing cancelled each other out. Frustration seemed to get the better of
Power’s Michael Baird towards the end, with the striker – now goalless in four
games – receiving his marching orders in the 89th minute.
Looking ahead...
Both teams are involved in crunch clashes next week, with Power hosting
high-flying Albany Creek and Wolves entertaining old foes Rochedale.
North Star 1:2 Eastern Suburbs
Luck smiled on the Tigers during their trip to North Star on Saturday
afternoon, as a contentious penalty and a Star own goal gifted them all three
points.
Everyone will be talking about…
The condition of the pitch. There is such thing as an over-luscious
green, with pace and slick passing almost entirely missing from the match and a
big reason behind the high number of mistakes.
Yeah, but what happened?
After a disjointed start to the game, Easts were awarded a penalty for a
nudge in the back during a tussle in the box – much to the frustration of the
hosts. Ryan Stenhouse duly converted in the bottom left corner, sparking an
immediate response from the hosts. Star enjoyed the majority of possession for
the remainder of the half, aided by high pressing and aggression from the
midfield. Their efforts were rewarded ten minutes before the break, when Jake
Sullivan’s drive took a large deflection and found its way past Tom Carroll.
Easts had the ascendancy and looked more likely to hit the lead, but as so
often happens, quality sides find a way of edging in front. Easts’ Daniel Cunha
squared an inviting ball from the left flank that a hapless Star defence could
not deal with, eventually deflecting in their own net. The visitors proved the
more resilient and organised side in the second period, holding on to their
lead and climbing to fifth.
The numbers:
Star – Sullivan ‘35
Easts – Stenhouse ‘27(pen); OG ‘41
Looking ahead...
Easts will look to move into the top four when they entertain Capalaba
next week, while North Star will have their best chance yet to gain their first
points of the season when they travel to UQ.
Ipswich Knights 1:1 Rochedale Rovers
A horror second-half blunder from Knights ‘keeper Luke MacDonald handed
Rovers a share of the spoils at Eric Evans Oval.
Everyone will be talking about…
MacDonald’s lapse in concentration. With his side leading 1-0, the
hosts’ custodian inexplicably failed to grasp Joshua Falco’s tame effort,
squirming through his legs and dubiously crossing the goal line.
Yeah, but what happened?
The hosts stunned Rochedale with a goal in their first foray forward. Mitchell
Davis burst towards the goal line and cut back for Igor Sao Jose to strike home
from close range. It was all Ipswich in the opening 15 minutes, with Rochedale
constantly backpedalling under pressure. Rovers settled into the game, but
Ipswich would rue not taking a further advantage after enjoying supremacy in
the opening stanza. They were made to pay in controversial fashion ten minutes
after the restart via a forgetful moment for MacDonald. To their credit,
Knights picked up their first half tempo, but to no avail. In the end, it was
Rovers who should have run away with the win, Jarryd McKeller’s thumping header
rattling the post.
The numbers:
Ipswich – Sao Jose ‘2
Rochedale – Falco ‘56
Looking ahead...
Ipswich will be favoured to maintain their solid run of results when
they travel to CJ Greenfield Reserve to take on Brisbane Force next Sunday.
Rochedale will take on a much more testing assignment, travelling to an in-form
Wolves FC.
UQ FC 0:4 Lions FC
Lions piled further misery on University in a comfortable Sunday
afternoon win that sees them remain at the head of the table.
Everyone will be talking about…
Will UQ be able to muster a win this year? Coming up against the league
leaders is no easy feat, but the students’ form is deplorable and confidence
non-existent.
Yeah, but what happened?
The writing was on the cards from the outset for the hosts, with Brodie
Kenyon grabbing a cool brace in the first half. The ever-impressive Kentaro
Ishikawa assured all three points would be going back to Richlands midway
through the second half. The rout was completed 15 minutes from time from the
penalty spot, with Andrew Butler slotting home after another defensive blunder
from Uni.
The numbers:
Lions - Kenyon ’13, ’40; Ishikawa
’68; Butler ‘73(pen)
Looking ahead...
Next week will perhaps be UQ’s best chance to pick up their first points
of the season when they host fellow strugglers North Star. Lions face a
potentially tricky trip to Logan.
Albany Creek 4:3 Capalaba
A Jared Austin hat-trick propelled Albany Creek to victory over Capalaba
in a trilling encounter at Wolter Park.
Everyone will be talking about…
Austin’s 35-minute hat-trick. The marksman broke down the visitors’
defence in stunning fashion, taking his season tally to five goals.
Yeah, but what happened?
Austin was the star of the show in the first half, although Xavier Lopez
gave the Dogs hope right on half-time with another sublime strike. Capalaba’s
hopes of a comeback were dealt a major blow when Matt Needham restored Creek’s
advantage two minutes after the restart. Capalaba refused to lie down and again
hit back through Lopez ten minutes later. Both sides showed great spirit in
contrasting situations – Capalaba pushing to get back into the game while Creek
maintained organisation through the middle of the park. The Dogs’ constant
pressure finally paid off with a minute of regulation time to go, when Scott
Sargent’s goal set-up a grand-stand finish. A miraculous comeback wasn’t to be
though, as Creek earned a dramatic three points that sees them keep the
pressure on leaders Lions.
The numbers:
Creek – Austin ’16, ’26, ’35; Needham ‘47
Capalaba – ‘45+1, ’57; Sargent ‘89
Looking ahead...
Albany Creek will need to prepare for anything when
they travel to an inconsistent Power side next week, while Capalaba will be
desperate to get back to winning ways at Easts.
Brisbane Force 1:1 Logan Lightning
A second-half Taki Matsamuta strike earned Brisbane Force a well
deserved draw – their first point in the 2013 BPL.
Everyone will be talking about…
The losing streak is over. Force have a point next to their name – what
is undoubtedly a great relief for the league’s debutants.
Yeah, but what happened?
Logan looked on track to power towards a third consecutive victory when
Daniel Messer opened the scoring midway through the first half. The Lightning
remained in the ascendancy until half time but could not add to their lead. It
was a case of a chance well taken for Force in the second period, when
Matsamuta levelled proceedings 15 minutes after the restart. Buoyed by the
scoreline, Force battled for the point and deservedly held out a frustrated
Logan forward line.
The numbers:
Force – Matsamuta ‘61
Logan – Messer ‘23
Looking ahead...
Force will be eager to build on their first result
when they host Ipswich next week, while Logan will look to maintain their
four-game unbeaten streak when they welcome league leaders Lions.