Lions FC are within reach of claiming the 2019 National Premier Leagues (NPL) Queensland Premiership going into Round 29, with the ladder leaders one point ahead of Gold Coast Knights and with a game in hand.
Redlands United will host Lions FC on Saturday evening in the Round 29 Match of the Round as last year’s Premiers look to secure back-to-back titles.
The Match of the Round clash will be available to view live and on demand on the FQ website, FQ Facebook and FQ YouTube.
The Redlands side have made great improvements to their form over the past few rounds, managing to secure wins against teams like Peninsula Power and Gold Coast United.
A 2-1 loss to Moreton Bay United last round may have halted their five game winning streak, but their impressive form has moved them from 11th place to the 7th spot on the ladder.
They’ll look to stop Lions in their tracks this weekend and hope for a strong finish to the 2019 season.
Lions meanwhile will secure the Premiership if they can extend their nine game winning streak this weekend against Redlands.
The 2018 Champions’ form has been impeccable throughout the 2019 season. They hold an impressive record of 22 wins, two draws and two losses so far, but they’ve also shown class in their goal scoring abilities with 80 goals so far to their name.
While coming up against Redlands this weekend may seem like an easy task, the home team could prove to be a difficult opponent.
The last time the two sides met, Redlands put up a good fight and managed to secure a 1-1 draw against the formidable Lions. They’ll look to repeat this feat or go one better come Saturday’s Round 29 clash.
MATCH DETAILS
Redlands United FC vs Lions FC
Saturday, 24 August, 5pm
Cleveland Showgrounds
Other matches to watch:
Magpies Crusaders vs Brisbane Strikers
The Mackay-based team have struggled this season and they currently sit one point ahead of Western Pride in 12th place. Their match against Strikers could be an interesting one though, as Strikers are set for an FFA Cup Round of 16 match next week and will no doubt be thinking ahead to that with their Finals Series hopes no longer alive.
Western Pride vs Brisbane City
Western Pride have secured some crucial wins in the past few rounds against teams like Gold Coast United, Moreton Bay and Eastern Suburbs. As they currently sit one point behind Magpies, they’ll look to pressure Brisbane City and claim a vital three points to move further up the table before the end of the season.
Players to watch:
Joe Duckworth (Lions FC): The Lions forward scored a hat-trick last week in his team’s 5-1 win against SWQ Thunder. His efforts scored him a Team of the Week spot, and he’ll prove to be a crucial asset this weekend in Lions’ clash with Redlands.
Joshua Anderson (Redlands United): The talented midfielder has proven to be a consistent part of Redlands’ recent strong form. He’ll be a key strength for the home team this weekend when they take on Lions.
Alex Parsons (Western Pride): Parsons currently has 10 goals to his name and is the top goal scorer for his side. Last weekend, he scored the winning goal against Eastern Suburbs and earned himself a spot in the NPL Queensland Team of the Week.
Words: Vivien Topalovic
Image: Ian Judd/Lions FC
