A northern derby, two grudge matches at the top and a couple of belting ties in the middle. Round 15 of the National Premier Leagues Queensland is set to be a cracker.
Sunshine Coast FC v Cairns FC
Kawana Sports Precinct Field 5
Saturday, 26 May, 4:00pm
Fire hope to double up over Cairns
Sunshine Coast suffered another disappointing defeat last time out but will consider themselves a chance against Cairns out at Kawana on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts picked up their only win of the season in Cairns back in Round 2 and will be hoping that they can use a positive result here to kick-start their season.
Cairns have won just one of their last six matches but will be hoping to avenge that 2-1 defeat at Barlow Park earlier in the year against a side that has shipped 12 goals in their past three matches.
SWQ Thunder FC v Redlands United
Gatton Football Club
Saturday, 26 May, 5:00pm
Thunder to strike winning note in Gatton?
The Thunder hurled themselves out of the bottom two last time out with a sensational 4-0 win over the Brisbane Roar Youth at Clive Berghofer Stadium, recording their first win in seven matches.
Redlands United have lost their last four, although were much improved at Wolter Park last time out and were buoyed by Shuto Kuboyama’s drought-breaking first goal in seven matches despite the 2-1 defeat.
The two sides shared an exhilarating 4-4 draw out at the Cleveland Showgrounds last time out, a game in which Kuboyama netted a hat-trick, so expect plenty more from the Japanese goal machine this weekend.
Olympic FC v Western Pride
Goodwin Park
Saturday, 26 May, 6:00pm
Watch Live on YouTube
Watch Live on Facebook
First vs second at Goodwin Park
Western Pride silenced their critics with a 1-0 victory over the Brisbane Strikers last time out, recording that all important first win without goalscoring talisman Dylan Wenzel-Halls and will be looking to continue that trend with another win over Olympic on Saturday.
League leaders Olympic have not let their 1-0 Round 11 defeat to Strikers get to them, responding with 11 goals in their next three games to retake top spot from the Pride.
Olympic can extend that lead at the top to an imposing five points with a victory on Saturday.
Brisbane Strikers v Lions FC
Perry Park
Saturday, 26 May, 6:00pm
Can Strikers hurt weary Lions?
Strikers lost their first game in ten last time out after a red card to defender Michael McGowan handed Pride the opportunity to complete their first ever double over the two time reigning Premiers.
Strikers also lost their reverse fixture against Lions but will have the advantage this time of the Lions playing 120 minutes mid-week against Rochedale in the FFA Cup.
Lions coach Warren Moon brought himself on in extra time in that game, so stretched is his squad with injuries, but don’t expect a repeat on Saturday.
Brisbane City FC v Moreton Bay United
Corporate Travel Management Stadium
Saturday, 26 May, 6:30pm
Resurgent City to battle Jets
City have won their last four games in the league, two of them against top four sides and have another high flyer in their sights this weekend when they host the Jets at Corporate Travel Management Stadium.
However Moreton Bay could be the toughest test so far in City’s mini-revival, the Jets have not lost to City at Corporate Travel Management Stadium since 2013 and have won their last three against City in all competitions, including their Round 2 meeting in which the Jets won 3-1.
Magpies Crusaders FC v North Queensland United
Sologinkin Oval
Saturday, 26 May, 7:00pm
Big crowd expected at Northern derby
After winning consecutive games for the first time against Redlands and Cairns, the Magpies have since suffered three consecutive defeats, sucking the Mackay-based side back into the bottom two.
Despite the score lines, the Magpies have been far from outclassed in those games and with a big crowd expected at Sologinkin Oval on Saturday night, North Queensland can expect a torrid evening in Mackay
North Queensland’s 4-1 victory over Sunshine Coast last time out was their first win in seven matches but United did beat Magpies in the reverse fixture in Townsville, so might fancy their chances to silence the crowd and take home the points.
Brisbane Roar Youth v Gold Coast United
Logan Metro Sports Complex
Sunday, 27 May, 6:30pm
Can Coast condemn Roar to fourth straight defeat?
The Young Roar are struggling, shipping 13 goals in their past three defeats against the Pride, Jets and Thunder that has seen them slip from 5th on the ladder to 8th, level on points with their opponents on Sunday.
Sean Lane’s Gold Coast side have won their last three games and are really starting to build some momentum. Sean Lane’s side will have developed plenty of belief when overcoming the sending off of Luka Zoric when a goal down to run over the top of Cairns with three second half goals and could condemn the Roar to yet another defeat on Sunday evening.
