Gold Coast Knights and Moreton Bay United will go head-to-head in the 2023 NPL Queensland Men’s Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium next Sunday after the pair came up trumps in the weekend’s Semi Final action.
The Premiers booked their spot in the big dance with a commanding 5-0 win over Peninsula Power at the Croatian Sports Centre on Friday night.
The scores were locked at 0-0 at the break after goalkeepers Joshua Langdon and Lachlan Hunter came up with crucial saves at either end of the park.
However, a miscued pass out from the back by the latter allowed Max Brown to capitalise with a clinical finish into the bottom corner to give Knights the lead four minutes into the second half.
Oskar Dillon doubled the hosts lead in the 54th minute when nodded a Bradden Inman corner into the back of the net for what was his first goal of the 2023 NPL Queensland season.
Knights continued their rampant start to the second stanza with Brown netting a quickfire double to extend the hosts lead to four by the 63rd minute.
Tyson Martin rounded out the 5-0 score line in the 83rd minute when he turned a first-time finish into the bottom corner at the far post.
The 2022 Champions look to go back-to-back for the first time in their history when they go up against the Jets on Sunday.
Moreton Bay United are through to their first Grand Final since 2017 after defeating Brisbane City 2-1 at Wolter Park on Saturday night.
Sam Knight put the home side in front in the 64th minute when his looping cross from the right sailed into the top corner at the far post.
City then found an equaliser through a Knight own goal after the defender turned a Braydon Doolan cross into his own net.
However, City’s parity only lasted three minutes when Joe Scott made space for himself inside the area before slamming a finish into the bottom corner for what proved to be the matchwinner in the 83rd minute.
Both Moreton Bay and the Knights will play their third NPL Queensland Grand Final next Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.
The Knights were victorious in each of their previous Grand Finals in 2019 & 2022 while the Jets won their sole title in 2015.
NPL Queensland Men’s Semi Final Results
Gold Coast Knights 5-0 Peninsula Power
Moreton Bay United 2-1 Brisbane City