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At the other end of the ladder, Wolves, Rochedale and Capalaba all enjoyed home wins, while leaders Lions were held by Ipswich. Finally, the late Sunday kick-off delivered the most dramatic finish, as Easts completed an impressive turnaround.
Capalaba 3:0 North Star
A Lopez-Schiavo inspired Capalaba side condoned North Star to their
fifth successive defeat in a comfortable home victory that leaves them in 5th
spot.
Everyone will be talking about…
The most effective strike partnership in the league. Xavier Lopez and
Antony Schiavo have been turning the screws on opposition defences week-in
week-out and with 13 goals between them in six games, they are the league’s
most lethal front pairing.
Yeah, but what happened?
Overwhelming favourites before kick-off, Capalaba dominated possession and
chances right from the offset. It didn’t take long for the Dogs to get on the
scoresheet, Lopez getting on the end of a Joel Drewek free-kick with a sumptuous
first-touch lob over the ‘keeper. Schiavo made it 2-0 right after the break
when he capitalised on poor defending and wonderful supply from Greg Warden. In
truth, the end margin could have been bigger for Capalaba, but Lopez’s late strike
from a one-on-one situation proved to be the only addition to the scoreline.
The numbers:
Capalaba – Lopez ’13, ’87; Schiavo ‘46
Looking ahead...
Capalaba will face much stiffer opposition when they travel to
high-flying Albany Creek next week, while North Star remain in search of their
first points, which could come at home to Easts.
Wolves FC 6:2 Brisbane Force
Wolves made it four successive wins as Clulow grabbed a hat-trick in a
Saturday afternoon goal-fest against struggling Brisbane Force.
Everyone will be talking about…
Wolves’ form. Since a disappointing 0-1 opening day loss to Lions, Sam
Saif’s men have torn all opposition to shreds, scoring 23 goals and conceding
only five in the process.
Yeah, but what happened?
The league’s joint top goalscorer Kado Aoci got the ball rolling early
on with a low drive in the bottom corner. Trent Clulow grabbed his first of the
evening soon after, but Force hit back through Marius Kalubi, who pounced on a Michael
Pike mistake in goal. Force looked to be back in the contest but Chris Knowles
restored the hosts’ two goal advantage right before half-time. That seemed to serve
as a psychological blow for Force and the result was sealed when Clulow and
Knowles completed their braces within ten minutes of the restart. Kalubi looked
dangerous throughout the match and the Frenchman’s sublime 20-yard strike late
on was among the pick of the goals. However all the plaudits went to Clulow,
who sealed his hat-trick in stoppage time.
The numbers:
Wolves – Aoci ’10; Clulow ’14, ’50, ’90; Knowles ’43, ‘53
Force – Kalubi ’22, ‘86
Looking ahead...
Wolves are arguably the in-form team in the league and will travel to Peninsula
as favourites, in what is usually a hotly contested matchup. Force remain
pointless as they prepare for the visit of Logan.
Rochedale Rovers 3:1 Albany Creek
High-flyers Albany Creek were quickly dragged down to Earth by Rochedale’s
decisive first-half display.
Everyone will be talking about…
Rovers’ resilience when down to ten men. With Rhys Hastings receiving his
marching orders in the 34th minute, Rovers refused to panic, kept
their shape and held on to the lead they had earlier established.
Yeah, but what happened?
Matt Needham’s goalscoring fiesta in the BPL continued, Creek’s frontman
getting on the scoresheet for the 8th time in five games within ten
minutes. The goal proved a double-edged sword for Creek, as Rochedale turned
rampant with a furry of attacks in a frantic remainder of the first half. They
were level through Greg Cheshire’s strike midway through the half and within
seven minutes were two goals to the good. David Butler scored an early
contender for goal of the season, controlling a long pass on his chest and
volleying home in a moment of brilliance. Cody Lovell added a third moments
later, but quickly went from hero to zero as he received his second yellow for
a rash challenge. Creek had their chances in the second period but Rochedale
held out for an impressive victory that sees them joint on 12 points with the
visitors.
The numbers:
Rovers – Cheshire ’24; Butler ’28; Hastings ‘31
Creek – Needham ‘8
Looking ahead...
Rochedale have won four on the trot and will be confident ahead of their
trip to Ipswich, while Albany Creek will be hungry to regain the taste of victory
when they welcome Capalaba to Wolter Park.
Logan Lightning 4:0 UQ FC
The horror continues for UQ as Logan piled on the goals in a thumping
win at Cornubia Park on Saturday night.
Everyone will be talking about…
A season to forget…continues for UQ. The students are still pointless
after five matches and have managed a measly two goals, opposed to 21 conceded.
Yeah, but what happened?
Uni’s defensive shape held on for a mere 20 minutes this time around –
Trent Vohland breaking the deadlock for the hosts. One quickly became two with
a well taken goal by Doyle Bissett ten minutes later. The home crowd did not
have to wait as long for the third, Blake Cearns piling on the misery for a
hapless UQ side. To their credit, the visitors regrouped in the second half and
looked much more competitive, although the tempo of the game had largely died
down by then. Logan did manage a 4th, Jackson Hall getting his name
on the scoresheet late on.
The numbers:
Logan - Vohland ’21; Bissett ’32;
Cearns ’35; Hall ‘88
Looking ahead...
Logan have a fantastic chance to grab two wins on the trot when they
travel to fellow strugglers Brisbane Force next week. UQ look out of their
depth in the league and will need a miraculous performance to take anything
away from their match-up with top of the table Lions.
Lions FC 1:1 Ipswich Knights
Ipswich held on for an impressive draw at Lions, who drop their first
points of the season but remain top of the table.
Everyone will be talking about…
Ipswich’s response to an early setback. Keita Furuie’s equaliser minutes
after Lions had taken the lead took the hosts by surprise, from which they did
not recover.
Yeah, but what happened?
A familiar storyline looked on the cards when Pablo Aviles opened the
scoring for the hosts in the 11th minute. But Ipswich had other
ideas and immediately pressed the hosts up the park, forcing pressure on the
Lions’ backline. They were soon rewarded as Furuie struck in the 16th
minute to the delight of the travelling support. It was a game of tussle for
the remainder of the match, which Lions shaded but could not break down a
resolute Knights unit.
The numbers:
Lions – Avile ‘11
Ipswich – Furuie ‘16
Looking ahead...
Lions will look at this match as two points dropped
rather than a point gained, but they will have their mind clearly set on all
three when they travel to UQ next week. Ipswich will take a lot of confidence
from this performance into another tough encounter as hosts to Rochedale.
Eastern Suburbs 2:1 Peninsula Power
Power’s inconsistent form continued as Easts recorded a crucial come
from behind victory to keep them in the chasing pack for the top four.
Everyone will be talking about…
Jordan Farina’s last-gasp injury time winner. With the game into
stoppage time, Farina delivered the goods with a quality finish to send the
home crowd into raptures.
Yeah, but what happened?
An impressive first half performance by Power was capped off by Lewis
Bonar’s strike before half-time. But as they have shown earlier in the season,
Power failed to maintain a steady tempo and Matthew Boyd punished them shortly
after the restart. The visitors seemed content with a point but Easts had other
ideas, committing men forward and getting their just reward for bold tactics
through Farina.
The numbers:
Easts – Boyd ’50; Farina ‘90+1
Power – Bonar ‘42
Looking ahead...
Mid-table Easts will travel to pointless North Star
as firm favourites next week, while Power will look to once again bounce back,
this time at home to Wolves.