Brisbane Roar Youth shrugged off the weight of history when they went to Lions Stadium and beat Lions FC 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Images: Josh Springfield Photography
Eli Adams opened the scoring in the seventh minute, taking advantage of a decisive run into the penalty area by Cyrus Dehmie and slotting home from close range.
After the break Max Mikkola equalised for Lions from the penalty spot but Adams made sure of the three points, scoring his second goal of the game, and 10th of the season, with 16 minutes left on the clock.
Both sides played some thrilling football in what was one of the most entertaining games of the NPL Queensland season and not surprisingly Head Coach Chris Grossmann was jubilant after full-time.
“I’ve been with the club for five years now and I can’t recall us ever winning at RIchlands,” he said “And it was a fully deserved victory because the boys played some excellent football out there today.
“Lions are a great team and a great club,” he continued, “but we honestly could have put the game away by half-time if we were a bit more clinical.”
The win puts Young Roar back into second place on the table after Olympic FC dropped points against Moreton Bay United, a slot which Grossmann is targeting from here.
“Finishing second is our goal now with Peninsula too far ahead to get overtaken but we know that one slip-up and we are back in the pack fighting for a Finals place,” he said.
“But we back ourselves against anyone and with players returning to the squad after long-term injuries over the next month things are really looking promising.”
With bottom team Brisbane Strikers next on the agenda on Sunday evening at Perry Park, Grossman was quick to point out that there are no easy games in this league.
“We take every team on their merits,” he asserted. “Obviously we’d be disappointed to lose that game but we worry about what we can do and right now we’re in a good place.”
Kick off against Strikers is at 6pm.
Eli Adams, take a bow! ?
The Young Roar star's sublime second goal against Lions FC sealed a huge #NPLQLD win on Sunday.
? @FootballQLD pic.twitter.com/cfqSUH0ABo
— Brisbane Roar FC (@brisbaneroar) July 12, 2021
GOALS
Brisbane Roar Youth – Adams 7′ – 1-0
Dehmie puts the Lions defence on notice with a driving run into the penalty area then squares the ball for Adams to score from close range.
Lions FC – Mikkola p.54′ – 1-1
Young Roar concede a sloppy penalty. Mikkola smashes it onto the crossbar and goalkeeper Nathan Foster is desperately lucky as the ball rebounds in off his body.
Brisbane Roar Youth – Adams 74′ – 2-1
Adams runs at the defence, beats one player with a step-over and another with a delicate touch before ramming the ball inside the far post.
MATCH DETAILS
NPL 2021 Round 16: Brisbane Roar Youth vs Lions FC
Lions Stadium, Richlands
Sunday 11th May
Brisbane Roar Youth 2 (Adams 7’, 74’)
Lions FC 1 (Mikkola p.54’)
HT: 1-0
