Brisbane Roar have kept their first clean sheet of the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland 2016 season with a 1-0 victory over Western Pride at Cleveland Showgrounds.
It was a dominant performance from the Young Roar who controlled possession in a fast-paced encounter and played a majority of the match in the opposition’s half.
Clear-cut chances were hard to come by in the first half as the Young Roar mustered regular attempts at the Pride goal, but struggled to hit the target.
The Pride defence held strong amid sustained pressure until an unstoppable strike from last season’s PS4NPLQld Young Player of the Year Nicholas D’Agostino broke the deadlock just before half time.
The Pride managed to wrestle back some control of proceedings in the second period, but struggled to worry Andre Jannese’s goal as Brisbane’s back four put in a strong performance.
Young Roar captain Jesse Daley and midfield partner Nathan Konstandopoulos were instrumental and regularly created space and play with inch-perfect passes out wide.
The pace of wingers Joseph Champness and Dane Ingham caused problems for the Pride defence, which often relied on strong challenges from full-back Joel Haack to stop the duo.
Words by AARON COOPER Photos by ANDREW SHAW / Visible Focus Photography
Goals & Highlights:
18’: CHANCE ROAR: Clearing header from the Pride goes as far as Joseph Champness on the edge of the area who scuffs his first volley at goal but still forces a good save out of Duncan Short.
21’: YELLOW CARD PRIDE: Adam Endean picks up a yellow card for a foul on Jesse Daley.
26’: YELLOW CARD PRIDE: Jesse Rigby catches Champness late and the referee produces a yellow card.
27’: CHANCE ROAR: A clearing header from the Pride goes as far as Champness on the edge of the area who scuffs his shot into the ground but still forces a great save out of Pride stopper Duncan Short.
35’: CHANCE ROAR: Rodic slices through the Pride defence and breaks into the area. The midfielder’s shot is goal-bound but is cleared off the line and behind for a corner.
39’: GOAL ROAR: Great one-touch passing in midfield ends with Konstandopoulos finding D’Agostino (below) in space. The Young Roar striker has time to thunder a dipping shot over Short and into the top corner. 1-0
43’: CHANCE ROAR: Daniel Driver is awarded too much time on the ball and from 25m out, his attempt thunders off Short’s right post and back into play.
53’: YELLOW CARD ROAR: Young Roar defender Cameron Crestani receives a yellow card for a challenge out wide.
56’: CHANCE PRIDE: Jaiden Walker clears Nielen Brown’s shot off the line after Roar keeper Andre Jannese comes off his line but can’t collect the ball.
73’: YELLOW CARD PRIDE: Nielen Brown receives a yellow card for a blatant shirt-hold on Matthew Schmidt.
77’: YELLOW CARD ROAR: Jesse Daley receives a yellow card for holding back Joel Haack as he broke away in midfield.
Quote unquote:
Brisbane Roar Youth coach JOSH McCLOUGHAN: “I thought we controlled the game pretty well.
“The one thing I always look for from the boys is a response, and I really believe we got a response tonight.
“They’ve had a great week in training and I thought their performance tonight was very good.
“We were swarming in numbers and desperate to get the ball back and start again and I was really happy with that.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do on all aspects. We work to a plan as individuals, but as a team as well.
“We’ve got to keep pitching away at that.”
Western Pride coach GRAHAM HARVEY: “I’d say it was okay performance but it’s a bit disappointing to not come away with something.
“The goal was a really quality finish and if you take that out of the game there’s a couple of half chances for each side and that’s about it.
“I thought it was quite a tough contest. It was just the one bit of individual brilliance that set them apart.”
Talking Point:
The result sees the Young Roar record their first clean-sheet of the 2016 PlayStation 4 NPLQLD season. Brisbane’s back four thwarted any sight at goal for the Pride and keeper Andre Jannese was rarely troubled.
What’s next?
The Young Roar travel to Cairns to face FNQ Heat FC on Saturday, 16 April (3pm KO) at Barlow Park before returning home to face another North Queensland side in Northern Fury FC at Cleveland Showgrounds on Saturday, 23 April (5pm KO).
Match Stats:
PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland Round 6, Brisbane Roar FC Youth v Western Pride FC, Cleveland Showgrounds, Saturday, 9 April
Brisbane Roar Youth 1 (D’Agostino 39’)
Western Pride FC 0
Brisbane Roar FC Youth: 1.Andre Jannese (gk), 2.Jaiden WALKER, 3.Cameron CRESTANI, 4.Mark RODIC, 5.Matthew SCHMIDT, 7.Dane INGHAM (19.Daniel LECK 61’), 8.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS (23.Nicholas PANETTA 67’), 9.Nicholas D’AGOSTINO, 12.Joseph CHAMPNESS (11.Jayden PRASAD,77’), 14.Daniel DRIVER, 15.Jesse DALEY (C)
Unused substitutes: 20.Tomislav BILIC (gk), 21.Tommy JARRARD
Yellow cards: Cameron CRESTANI 53’, Jesse DALEY 77’
Red cards: Nil
SWQ Thunder FC: 1.Duncan SHORT (gk), 2.Alistair WALLIS, 3.Joel HAACK, 4.Corey LUCAS, 5.Douglas BROWN, 6.Jesse RIGBY, 7.Adam ENDEAN, 8.Nielen BROWN (16.Jordan LAMBI 80’), 9.Hayden McHENERY (13.Bonventure THOMAS-REMIJO 61’), 10.Joseph DUCKWORTH (14.Geoffrey MACINTYRE 86’), 11.Mitchell BIRD
Unused substitutes: 15.Jacob MINETT, 20.Dylan WILLIAMS (gk)
Yellow cards: Adam ENDEAN 21’, Jesse RIGBY 26’, Nielen BROWN 73’
Red cards: Nil
Referee: Jonathan Borrero; Assistant Referee 1: Joey Lee; Assistant Referee 2: Vicky Clark; Fourth Official: Cameron Fawcott
