Lions FC look likely to secure the Premiership in the National Premier Leagues Women’s (NPLW) Queensland Round 25 Match of the Round when they face Capalaba FC on Sunday afternoon.
The NPLW Queensland Match of the Round will be available live and on demand on the FQ website, FQ Facebook and FQ YouTube.
Capalaba FC currently sit in third place on 44 points, 15 points behind first-placed Lions and are heading into the final rounds with inconsistent form.
Across the last five rounds, they’ve recorded one win and three losses which has faltered their performance on the ladder. If the home team wants to stop Lions in their tracks, they will have to pull out all the stops.
It’s no secret that Lions’ clinical form has led them to being only one point away from winning the Premiership. Throughout the 2019 season so far, they recorded 19 wins, two draws and only one loss and with a high goal scoring tally of 106, the odds are on their side to secure the win this weekend.
Lions have been in this position before though in Round 23 when they went up against The Gap. They were one point away from securing the Premiership but it wasn’t meant to be as they ultimately lost 3-1. The same could happen when they face Capalaba FC this weekend, however they could also secure the Premiership title if Moreton Bay United fall to Gold Coast United.
The last time Capalaba and Lions met was in Round 12 when Lions came away with a close 2-1 win, so it’s bound to be another close match between the two sides this Sunday.
MATCH DETAILS
Capalaba FC v Lions FC
Sunday, 18 August, 4:15pm
John Fredericks Park
Other key matches:
Gold Coast United v Moreton Bay United
Both of these teams have had varying results over the past five rounds. Gold Coast United currently sit in fifth place on 43 points and have the opportunity to potentially move to third place if they triumph this weekend. Moreton Bay will be looking for a strong finish to the season ahead of Semi Finals, with only two regular season matches remaining.
The Gap v Brisbane Roar/QAS
The last time these two sides met, it was a grand final rematch with the game ending in a 3-3 draw. The Gap sit in fourth place on 43 points, just one point behind Capalaba. If they manage to defeat the QAS team, they could move up into the top three ahead of the Finals Series.
Players to watch:
Tegan Riding (Lions FC): Currently in second place for leading goal scorer on 29 goals, Riding will look to add more to her tally this weekend. Her goal scoring expertise has always been key for her team and has earned the Lions player multiple Team of the Week appearances.
Sachiko Tatsuoka (Capalaba FC): Tatsuoka has been a key player for Capalaba throughout the season. She currently has nine goals to her name but proves to be strong midfielder with experience. Her efforts have seen her feature in the NPLW Team of the Week numerous times.
Ruth Blackburn (The Gap): The Gap captain is the leading goal scorer for her team with 14 goals. Across her last five games, she’s scored five goals and continues to show no sign of stopping. Her strength on the ball and team-leading skills continuously prove to be key assets for the team.
Words: Vivien Topalovic
Image: Ian Judd/Lions FC