Four teams will go head-to-head this weekend in the first round of the Football Queensland Premier League (FQPL) Finals Series.
Following the final round of the regular season last weekend, elimination finals will kick off this Saturday.
Rochedale Rovers will take on Mitchelton FC this Saturday, 10 August at Underwood Park, before Logan Lightning clash with Ipswich Knights at Teralba Park on Sunday, 11 August.
All matches in the Men’s FQPL Finals Series will be available to watch live on FQ Facebook and FQ YouTube.
ROCHEDALE ROVERS v MITCHELTON FC
After some patchy form in recent weeks, Rochedale Rovers finished the season in fourth. While the side only won two of their last five matches, they closed out the regular season on a high with a dominant 7-0 win over Souths United.
Mitchelton FC meanwhile secured wins in their final two matches to finish the FQPL season in fifth. Securing three victories from their last five matches, the side only recorded losses to top three teams Sunshine Coast Wanderers and Logan Lightning in recent weeks.
Rochedale Rovers and Mitchelton FC will now meet in the first round of the FQPL Finals Series, just two weeks after their Round 17 clash.
Head-to-Head:
The first time the two sides met in Round 2 this year resulted in a 2-2 draw after Rochedale came from 2-0 down to score two goals in the final half hour, including one in the dying minutes of the game.
Both of their match-ups this year have gone down to the wire as Mitchelton just came out on top in their Round 17 clash to secure a tight 4-3 victory.
Just as it looked like another draw was on the cards in their recent clash, Mitchelton’s Carter Glockner netted in the 92nd minute to secure the win for his side.
Key Players:
Midfielder Graham Fyfe was instrumental in Rochedale’s Round 18 win over Souths United, netting a stunning five goals for his side.
Carter Glockner meanwhile consistently makes an impact up front for Mitchelton and is a goal scoring force to be reckoned with, having scored 17 goals in as many games this season.
Match Details
Rochedale Rovers v Mitchelton FC
Saturday, 10 August, 6pm
Underwood Park
LOGAN LIGHTNING v IPSWICH KNIGHTS
After a disappointing Round 18 loss to Capalaba FC, Logan Lightning finished the FQPL season in third.
Prior to last weekend’s loss, the Logan side had won five in a row and had the chance to secure promotion to the NPL Queensland.
The team will now turn their attention to claiming Grand Final glory as they come up against Ipswich Knights in the elimination final on Sunday.
The Ipswich side finished the regular season in fifth, but have recorded wins in their last two matches and are unbeaten in five games and will be keen to continue their momentum as they come up against Logan this weekend.
Head-to-Head:
The two sides first met in Round 8 of the FQPL in a close match resulting in a 3-3 draw.
The game was an action-packed one until the end, with Knights netting a penalty in the 87th minute before Logan scored a penalty of their own in the 90th to equalise just before the final whistle.
When they next played each other just three weeks later in Round 11, Knights secured the three points in a 2-0 win thanks to a Nicholas Edwards brace.
Despite finishing three spots higher on the ladder, Logan Lightning are yet to defeat Ipswich Knights this year but will need to turn this record around if they are to progress to the FQPL semi finals.
Key Players:
Jed Brown has been instrumental for Logan this season, scoring 18 goals in as many games and can help his side to a semi final appearance if he is to continue his goal scoring form.
Ipswich Knights’ Nicholas Edwards meanwhile will be a key player for Ipswich come this weekend, and if he can repeat his performance from the last time the sides met he will prove vital in Knights’ quest for a semi finals appearance.
MATCH DETAILS
Logan Lightning v Ipswich Knights
Sunday, 11 August, 5:30pm
Teralba Park