An injury time winner has ensured the Sunshine Coast Fire remain atop the HQSYL ladder, as the boys came from behind to notch a 2-1 win over the third-placed Logan Strikers on Sunday.
Nick Roth’s first-half strike cancelled out a goal from Logan’s Mitchell Polak minutes into the game, before a goal in second-half injury time from Kota Shibahashi won the Fire a vital three points.
In a game crucial to both teams’ finals prospects, Logan got off to a flying start with a goal from Mitchell Polak only seconds into the game. Polak was released one-on-one and beat Nickolls from close range, with the ball clipping the left post before crossing the line.
Shell-shocked at conceding early in such an important fixture, the Sunshine Coast looked desperate to win possession and tackled hard. After winning a free-kick 20 yards out, Andy Gillen drove a shot under the wall that Strikers keeper Brayden Nielsen did well to cling on to. Soon after, Kaine Frew ran onto a through-ball and raced in on goal, but shot straight at Nielsen under pressure.
With both sides hurling themselves into the contest and the play flowing from end to end, the Sunshine Coast began to create some genuine opportunities. A long ball from Brad Wallace was collected by Frew, who rounded a defender and settled to shoot from inside the penalty area, but could only pull his shot into the side netting.
On 40 minutes, the Fire were rewarded for their industry when James Verdin worked well down the left wing and cut back at the byline, slipping a pass inside to the advancing Nick Roth who made no mistake from 12 yards to level the scores.
Roth almost added to his tally minutes later when his left footed drive from long range flew just wide of the target.
The Sunshine Coast went into the half-time break with all of the momentum, and started the second half looking to capitalise on their clean slate. A direct move forward almost yielded a goal straight away for the Fire, but the referee called for a foul as Rhys Roberts prepared to shoot.
Although the Coast were enjoying a healthy share of possession, Logan were having some success on the counter-attack. A quick break from Aaron Christensen very nearly gave the Strikers the lead when he forced a quality save out of Sam Nickolls.
As the second half wore on, the Sunshine Coast continued to put themselves in good positions without finding the crucial goal. Substitute Andy Harrison showed his pace when he beat his marker and moved in on goal, but he lifted a shot over the bar under pressure.
With ten minutes to play, the Fire were continuing to look the more dangerous side as Kaine Frew and Luke Lewis both forced saves from Logan keeper Nielsen.
Injury time was drawing closer, and it was beginning to look like the Fire would be again held to a draw at home. Substitute Kota Shibahashi did well to work to the right byline, but his cross was a little too high for Frew.
With the match entering its final seconds, the Fire won a free-kick 25 yards out and Shibahashi stepped up to take a shot. As his teammates watched on, Shibahashi squeezed home a free-kick at the near post to give the Sunshine Coast the lead for the first time.
Although Andy Harrison narrowly missed a third goal for the Fire with the last shot of the match, the Fire were ecstatic when the whistle sounded for a 2-1 win that confirmed the side’s Premiership credentials.
The Fire will face another stern test next week when they travel south to Carrara Stadium to face the Gold Coast Under-19s. With the boys experiencing great success on the road this season, they will be confident of returning home with another three points and taking a further step towards the Premiership. Kick-off is set for 4.30pm on Sunday, July 17.
FINAL SCORE: Sunshine Coast FC – 2 (Roth, 40, Shibahashi, 90 +1)
Logan Strikers – 1 (Polak, 2)
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