A crucial match-up between finals hopefuls Mitchelton FC and Rochedale Rovers headlines an exciting set of fixtures in Round 8 of the Football Queensland Premier League (FQPL).
Catch all the action live on NPL.TV, free for Australian residents.
Key Matches:
Mitchelton FC v Rochedale Rovers
Mitchelton FC and Rochedale Rovers will face off in a match that could have a significant impact on both teams’ chances of finals qualification come season’s end.
The hosts Mitchelton had a four-game winning run broken last weekend by Wolves FC in a 3-1 Round 15 loss.
That result saw them fall six points behind league leaders SWQ Thunder and five points behind second-placed Logan Lightning, meaning a result this weekend is vital if they are to stay in the title race.
Their opponents Rochedale Rovers have surged up the table in recent weeks with four wins in their last five matches, losing only to top of the table SWQ Thunder in Round 12.
Rovers’ last two outings have been particularly impressive as they recorded a 6-0 win and a 4-0 win against Sunshine Coast FC and Western Pride respectively.
That form has seen them climb to fourth place on the ladder, just four points behind this week’s opponents Mitchelton in third.
This will be the second time these two sides have met this season, with the previous encounter seeing Mitchelton beat Rochedale 2-0 at Underwood Park in Round 19 thanks to goals from Seb Harnando and Alex Sartori.
Match Details
Saturday, 26 September, 6pm
Teralba Park
Live Stream Link
Western Pride v Holland Park Hawks
Western Pride have done nothing if not entertain so far this season but will be disappointed to currently find themselves outside of the top four, with seven wins and seven losses in fourteen games played.
The last three matches provide a snapshot of the rollercoaster Pride have been on this year, as the side earned a spectacular 6-1 win over ladder leaders SWQ Thunder in Round 14 before suffering back-to-back defeats to Mitchelton FC and Rochedale Rovers in the games that followed.
With six matches remaining on their schedule, the Ipswich-based club still have time to get themselves into the finals but will need to ensure they put together a consistent run of form, starting with this weekend’s opponents Holland Park Hawks.
As one of the youngest teams in the league, Holland Park have shown moments of real promise this season but have also been marred by inconsistency.
The Hawks are without a win in the last six matches having narrowly lost out to Sunshine Coast FC 2-1 away from home in Round 15 last weekend.
The club will go into this week’s match with confidence despite their recent misfortune, as they beat Western Pride 2-1 in a Round 19 encounter earlier this year thanks to goals from Han Jin Yoo and Mordecai Appiah.
Regardless of the outcome, this game is almost guaranteed to be an entertaining match-up.
Match Details
Saturday, 27 September, 7pm
Briggs Road Sports Complex
Live Stream Link
Ipswich Knights v Sunshine Coast FC
At one stage this season Ipswich Knights were looking as though they would push SWQ Thunder and Logan Lightning for promotion to the NPL Queensland, but have been out of sorts in recent weeks.
The Knights have suffered four straight defeats which included a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to top of the table SWQ Thunder, after they took a 2-0 lead in the second half in last week’s Round 15 match.
That run means Ipswich now find themselves in seventh place on the ladder after being leapfrogged by the likes of Mitchelton FC, Rochedale Rovers and Wolves FC in recent times and will need to start picking up points quickly if they are to remain in the hunt for finals football.
Meanwhile their opponents this weekend Sunshine Coast FC will be looking to build upon a 2-1 Round 15 win against Holland Park Hawks last weekend.
That result saw Sunshine Coast snap a four-game losing streak and leapfrog Holland Park into eighth place on the ladder, just one spot behind this weekend’s opponents Ipswich Knights.
The last time these two sides met was in a 1-1 draw at Kawana Sports Precinct in Round 19 earlier this season.
Match Details
Sunday, 27 September, 3pm
Eric Evans Oval
Live Stream Link
Other Round 8 Matches:
Souths United v SWQ Thunder
Saturday, 26 September, 6pm
Wakerley Park
Live Stream Link
Southside Eagles v Logan Lightning
Saturday, 26 September, 7pm
Memorial Park
Live Stream Link
Players to Watch:
Jackson Rossi (Rochedale Rovers): The 21-year-old Rochedale academy graduate is enjoying a breakout season under Marcus Stergiopoulos, earning back-to-back Team of the Week selections in the last two weeks, and will be looking to continue his fine form against Mitchelton.
Mordecai Appiah (Holland Park Hawks): Appiah is a dynamic forward whose side will no doubt turn to him to unlock the Pride defence this weekend.
Zayne Freiberg (Ipswich Knights): The Knights goalkeeper has been outstanding between the sticks in recent weeks and will need to continue his fine form to help his side return to winning ways against Sunshine Coast FC.
Words: Jacob Wala
Image: SWQ Thunder
