An epic NPL Men’s weekend serves up a potential Grand Final preview and a clash between long-running rivals as the race for the top four gathers pace.
It will be first versus second on Saturday night and there are five other games not to be missed in Round 7.
Catch every match live and on demand at NPL.TV, free for Australian residents.
Feature Match: Lions FC v Peninsula Power
Mid-season encounters don’t come much bigger than this.
Lions FC and Peninsula Power share title ambitions, an equal number of losses and similar motivations after both suffered Semi Final anguish last season, so expect the margins to be razor thin when the teams meet in a Saturday night blockbuster.
Power go into the key clash as league leaders after stringing together six successive victories, throughout which they’ve conceded just a single goal.
Their 2-0 win over Capalaba FC last time out put pressure on Lions and the Premiers were unable to respond, losing 1-0 at Olympic FC and relinquishing top spot in the process.
Another defeat this weekend would leave them five points and two games behind Power, who prevailed 2-1 on their last trip to Lions Stadium.
Aaron Philp’s side head back to the Richlands venue with Marek Madle among their in-form attacking options, the striker having now scored in back to back matches – his first two goals for the club after arriving from Lions during the close season.
Match Details
Lions FC v Peninsula Power
Saturday, 5 September, 7:00pm
Lions Stadium
Live Stream Link
Key Matches:
Brisbane City v Olympic FC
Round 7 concludes in style on Sunday as two traditional rivals square off in an always highly anticipated fixture at Corporate Travel Management Stadium.
Olympic have momentum behind them and a foothold in fourth following the win over Lions and will now be looking to march further up the ladder as teams around them start to falter.
Brisbane City, meanwhile, must regroup after their Finals Series hopes took a hit in a 2-1 home defeat against Moreton Bay United, a result that ended an encouraging three-game unbeaten streak.
Matt Smith’s men do still have two matches in hand on Olympic and know three points on home soil would thrust them right back into top-four calculations.
Match Details
Brisbane City v Olympic FC
Sunday, 6 September, 5:00pm
Corporate Travel Management Stadium
Live Stream Link
Gold Coast United v Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Sunshine Coast Wanderers will attempt to upset a second Glitter Strip side in as many weeks after boosting their survival bid with a stunning 4-1 win over Gold Coast Knights last weekend.
Though still at the foot of the ladder, Paul Arnison’s men are among the competition’s most entertaining teams and confidence will be high following their second victory in three games.
New signings Mitch Cooper, who faces his old club this Saturday, and the talented Tyson Holmes have settled in quickly, with the former notching twice against Knights on a dream debut.
Only four teams have scored more than Wanderers this term and there could be a shootout on the cards against a Gold Coast United outfit boasting star strikers Shane Smeltz and Sam Smith.
Smith’s brace and one for Smeltz secured a last-gasp 3-2 triumph over Brisbane Strikers and primed their side for an assault on those occupying higher positions.
Match Details
Gold Coast United v Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Saturday, 5 September, 4:30pm
Coplick Family Sports Park
Live Stream Link
Other Round 7 Matches:
Brisbane Strikers v Eastern Suburbs
Saturday, 5 September, 6:30pm
Perry Park
Live Stream Link
Capalaba FC v Gold Coast Knights
Saturday, 5 September, 6:45pm
John Fredericks Park
Live Stream Link
Brisbane Roar Youth v Moreton Bay United
Sunday, 6 September, 2:00pm
Logan Metro Sports Complex
Live Stream Link
Key Players:
Trent McEvoy (Peninsula Power): The league’s leading scorers in Lions go up against the strongest defence in Power, who have given up just seven goals in 10 games thanks in no small part to the experienced McEvoy.
Daniel Leck (Olympic FC): Named among the NPL Men’s Players of the Month for August, Leck scored Olympic’s winner against Lions – his seventh goal of the season – and promises to be a handful for City on Sunday.
Mitch Nichols (Gold Coast Knights): On target in the surprise loss to Wanderers, midfielder Nichols will shoulder even more responsibility in Round 7 as the reigning Champions look to their senior players for leadership following Grae Piddick’s departure from the Head Coach role.
Image: Ian Judd/Lions FC
