Young Roar have taken the three points from a seven-goal thriller with Western Pride in round 2 of the Playstation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland Senior Men’s competition. PHOTOS: S-L Archer
Brisbane were able to hold onto a 4-3 advantage in wet conditions at A.J. Kelly Park for their first win of the 2017 NPL season.
Head Coach James Robinson commended his side’s ability to stay strong in the final stages of Saturday night’s contest.
“It was a big performance for the boys to hold on with their backs against the wall. That’s a big challenge for the team and they showed great resilience,” he said.
“We have a lot of character in this squad and it’s fantastic for the boys to see some of things we have been working on come to fruition.”
The Young Roar started strongly and their speed on the flanks caused issues for the Pride defence as the visitors accumulated three yellow cards in the opening 45 minutes.
The Pride finished the half-time strongly however with defender Corey Lucas first hitting the crossbar before converting from the penalty spot five minutes later to hand the visitors the lead.
Attacker Nathan Yoon restored parity for the Roar just three minutes later with his second goal in as many games to start the campaign.
Within the first ten minutes of the second half the Young Roar side had a two-goal buffer with a Pride own goal and wonder-strike from Nicholas Panetta (below) seeing the Roar scoot out to a 3-1 lead.
The margin widened to three when Pride keeper Luke Macdonald was unable to deal with a cross from Panetta with 10 minutes remaining.
The Pride finished strongly however and reduced the gap to a single goal on the cusp of stoppage time with composed finish from subsititute Gabriel Hawash and a tap-in from Jordan Lambi setting up a tense final few minutes.
The hosts were able to hold on in the final minutes to record a gritty victory in the first home game of the new season.
Key moments
8’ CHANCE YOUNG ROAR: Lloyd Cabillan makes a barnstorming run through the heart of midfield before dishing a through ball to Nathan Yoon who can’t find a way past Luke McDonald between the posts.
29’ CHANCE YOUNG ROAR: Intricate play between the Young Roar attackers ends in a close-range shot for Yoon, but Macdonald makes himself and saves well.
36’ CHANCE PRIDE: A deep corner finds its way to Corey Lucas at the back post who has time to adjust and fire a well-struck volley off the crossbar and behind.
41’ GOAL PRIDE: Corey Lucas wins a foul in the area and opens the scoring from the spot. 0-1
44’ GOAL YOUNG ROAR: Luke McDonald is unable to collect the high ball and Yoon collects the follow-up and loops a header in under the bar. 1-1
47’ GOAL YOUNG ROAR: A dangerous ball across the front of goal is turned into the net from a Pride defender via the right upright. 2-1
55’ GOAL YOUNG ROAR: Nicholas Panetta drives towards goal and unleashes a perfectly timed strike that flies into the top left corner. 3-1
80’ GOAL YOUNG ROAR: Nicholas Panetta crosses a ball towards goal that squeezes under McDonald and the Pride keeper is unable to recover before the ball crosses the line. 4-1
82’ GOAL PRIDE: Young Roar concede possession deep in their own half and the ball is set up for Gabriel Hawash to run on to it at the edge of the area and side-foot the ball home. 4-2
90’ GOAL PRIDE: Jordan Lambi reduces the margin to a goal, finessing a right-footed strike past Tomislav Bilic’s in Brisbane’s goal. 4-3
What’s next?
Young Roar travel to Wolter Park to meet Moreton Bay United on Saturday, 11 March (7:15pm KO).
Match details
PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland Round 2, Brisbane Roar Youth v Western Pride, Saturday, 4 March.
Venue: A.J. Kelly Park, Kippa Ring.
Brisbane Roar Youth 4 (Yoon 44′, o.g. 47′, Panetta 55, o.g. 80′)
Western Pride 3 (Lucas 40′ p., Hawash 82′, Lambi 90′)
Half-time: 1-1
