[Image: Pine Creek Pictures]
At least one new champion will be crowned this weekend when four teams do battle in the PlayStation® 4 National Premier Leagues Men’s and Women’s Grand Finals.
Either FNQ FC Heat or Redlands United will raise the Men’s trophy for the first time, while The Gap will be aiming to go back-to-back as they take on first-timers Olympic FC in the Women’s decider.
Both matches will be streamed live on the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Facebook page.
Cairns-based Heat sealed their spot with a tense 1-0 win over Gold Coast City on Saturday night.
Christopher O’Hare’s 32nd minute goal proved the difference as Heat earned a shot at their first major title.
WE’RE IN THE GRAND FINAL!!!! #PS4NPLQLD
— FNQ FC Heat (@FNQHeat) August 27, 2016
Redlands United ensured it would be a pair of Grand Final debuts by surviving a penalty shootout to beat Brisbane Strikers on Sunday evening.
Graham Fyfe cancelled out Trent Clulow’s opener with around half an hour remaining before later stepping up to dispatch the winning penalty.
We’re through! A fitting end to a hard fought contest, running out winners on penalties. We’ll see you next week @FNQHeat! #PS4NPLQLD
— Redlands United FC (@RedlandsUTD) August 28, 2016
In the Women’s Semi-Finals, it was Olympic FC who caused the major upset with two goals at either ends of the match bookending a surprise 2-0 win away to Souths United.
Kristi New opened the scoring from a corner within five minutes, before Elizabeth Doherty secured her side’s first Grand Final appearance with a second goal 10 minutes from full-time.
#PS4NPLQLD WOMEN | @Olympic_FC advance to first GF after downing @southsunited in Semi https://t.co/p8gcJPugSv pic.twitter.com/mocaSr7DxA
— PS4 NPL Queensland (@nplqld) August 28, 2016
Reigning champions The Gap earlier secured their passage courtesy of two Greta Bodey goals in a 3-1 defeat of Eastern Suburbs.
Easts trimmed deficit with 20 minutes remaining but it wasn’t enough to prevent the hosts from moving through to a second straight Grand Final, where their sights will be set on raising a fourth trophy across two campaigns.
Stay tuned to www.nplqld.com.au for all the build-up, previews and fixturing details in the lead-up to this weekend’s Grand Finals.
