Young Roar will compete in their first ever Kappa Pro Series Semi Final when they host Lions FC at Meakin Park on Sunday afternoon.
Karl Dodd’ side secured their spot in the competition’s final four with a 4-0 Quarter Final victory over Gold Coast United after finishing second in Group D.
James Durrington bagged a brace against his junior club, while Christian Naveen and David Russell were also on target as Roar booked a Semi Final date with Lions.
Roar come into Sunday’s Semi Final on a three-match unbeaten run in the league following a pair of draws against Eastern Suburbs and Moreton City Excelsior along with a 2-0 triumph over Sunshine Coast Wanderers.
Roar showcased their never-say-die attitude as they fought back from a 3-1 half time deficit to salvage a point in a 3-3 draw against Easts at Heath Park in their most recent outing on Wednesday night.
Despite Caleb Butler scoring his second goal in as many games with a powerful effort from the edge of the area, the home side took a two-goal lead into the break courtesy of strikes from Laurence Cant, Braydon Doolan and an own goal.
Aaron Morris, who played his first match with the program after arriving from Moreton City Excelsior entered the game as a half time substitute and took just eight minutes to get his name on the scoresheet, when he reacted quickest to finish at the back post after Chris Parsons could only parry Noah Maieroni’s initial effort.
Jackson O’Reilly completed the come-back in the 65th minute when he rose highest and found the back of the net with a looping header on the end of a Maieroni free-kick.
Lions, who are the defending Kappa Pro Series winners and currently sit top of the NPL Queensland standings reached the Semi Finals by finishing top of Group A before prevailing 2-1 against Sunshine Coast Wanderers in the last eight.
The side from Luxury Paints Stadium, who are coached by Darren Sime are home to a number of former Young Roar players including Cardiff Pond, Finn Beakhurst, Hassan Ramazani, Jackson Hart-Phillips, Trent Millard and Luke Broderick as well as Mitch Hore – the older brother of Roar’s Henry.
The winner of Sunday’s match will face Moreton City Excelsior in the 2025 Kappa Pro Series Final.
Sunday’s Semi Final kicks off at 1:30pm at Meakin Park and will be live streamed on FQTV and the Football Queensland YouTube channel.
MATCH DETAILS
Kappa Pro Series Men 2025 – Semi Final: Brisbane Roar v Lions FC
Meakin Park, Slacks Creek
Sunday, 29 June (1:30pm KO)
