A nine man Young Roar endured a challenging start to their 2025 NPL Queensland campaign, going down 4-0 to Peninsula Power in Round One action on Saturday evening.
Roar were reduced to ten men after just 15 seconds when Luke Nieuwenhof was given his marching orders for a challenge on Kane Gibbs.
Power opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Nijah Joseph who finished into the bottom corner after Jheison Macuace squared the ball passed the onrushing Sam Flannery to the forward.
Macuace doubled the hosts lead in the 37th minute when he slipped in behind the Roar defence on the end of a Rhys Gray through ball and rifled a finish into the bottom corner.
Roar’s numerical disadvantage was furthered when they were reduced to nine men in the 67th minute as Noah Maieroni was shown his second yellow card of the evening for a challenge on Matt Mundy.
Rhys Messina made it three when he pounced on a loose ball inside the area and blasted home the bouncing ball before Pearson Kasawaya turned a Connor McKenzie cross into his own net three minutes later to round out the 4-0 scoreline.
Saturday’s match saw Christian Naveen, David Bolongi, Forbes Porter, Jack Child, Luke Nieuwenhof, Noah Maieroni, Pearson Kasawaya, Sam Flannery all start in their first NPL match for Young Roar.
Next up for Karl Dodd’s side is a clash against defending Champions, Lions at Luxury Paints Stadium on Friday night.
MATCH DETAILS
NPL Queensland Men 2024 – Round 1: Peninsula Power v Brisbane Roar
AJ Kelly Park, Redcliffe
Saturday, 22 February
Peninsula Power – 4 ( Nijah JOSEPH 17’, Jheison MACUACE 37’, Rhys MESSINA 83’, OWN GOAL 87’)
Brisbane Roar – 0
