An important round of NPL Queensland action is complete with the picture in the title race, finals battle and relegation scrap all becoming clearer following the weekend’s Round 18 matches.
League leaders Gold Coast Knights returned to winning ways and moved five points clear at the top with a 3-2 victory over Young Roar at AJ Kelly Park on Friday night.
The scores were level at half time after Max Brown and Ayom Majok capitalised on defensive errors at either end before a pair of quick-fire strikes from Bradden Inman and Ante Poljak had the visitors 3-1 ahead seven minutes into the second stanza.
Cher Deng pulled one back in the 63rd minute with a header off a corner for a Roar side who were denied a share of the spoils by the inside of the post in stoppage time.
Second placed Gold Coast United lost ground in the title race after playing out a 1-1 draw with Redlands United at Compass Grounds on Sunday afternoon.
Fionn Reilly put the home side ahead in the 52nd minute when he got in behind the defence and slid home a finish before a powerful 73rd minute Jarrod Kyle header saw the points shared.
Lions kept their hold on fourth position with a 2-0 win over Olympic at Goodwin Park on Sunday evening.
Joe Duckworth put the visitors ahead with a stunning 76th minute free-kick before Andy Pengelly found the bottom corner with a first time finish at the near post for his 14th of the season in the 82nd minute.
Sunday’s defeat leaves eleventh placed Olympic ten points adrift of safety with just four rounds remaining of the 2023 regular season.
Brisbane City remain within touching distance of the top four after grabbing a commanding 4-0 win over Eastern Suburbs at Heath Park on Friday night.
All four goals for Karl Dodd’s side came in the second half with Kye Bolton bagging a brace, while Ginjiro Chiba and Braydon Doolan were also on target for the Azzurri.
Friday’s defeat confirms Easts relegation to the FQPL 1 for the 2024 season, ending the Tigers five year stay in Queensland’s top tier following their promotion in 2019.
Neither Peninsula Power or Rochedale Rovers were able to close in the finals positions after the pair played out a 0-0 stalemate at AJ Kelly Park on Friday night.
Sunshine Coast Wanderers moved ten points clear of the relegation zone with a 3-2 win over Moreton Bay in the weekend’s final match at Ballinger Park on Sunday evening.
A pair of headers from Marcus Worthington and Matthew Nezval had the home side 2-0 ahead and they looked to be cruising towards victory when Matt Richardson was dismissed in the 58th minute.
However, Jordan Farina pulled a goal back for the Jets three minutes later before Wanderers keeper Guus Vaags was also dismissed for a coming together with Marquez Walters in the 66th minute.
Kyan Vanderharst-Bryant reinstated the hosts two goal lead with a well taken solo goal in the 74th minute before Walters scored a late consolation for the Jets.
NPL Queensland Round 18 Results
Peninsula Power 0-0 Rochedale Rovers
Brisbane Roar 2-3 Gold Coast Knights
Eastern Suburbs 0-4 Brisbane City
Redlands United 1-1 Gold Coast United
Olympic FC 0-2 Lions FC
Sunshine Coast Wanderers 3-2 Moreton Bay United