In what is set to be one of the most important matches of the year, Premiership contenders Lions FC and Gold Coast United will clash in a huge National Premier Leagues (NPL) Women’s Feature Match.
Round 16 will also see Eastern Suburbs and Logan Lightning continue their push for a finals finish as we approach the dying stages of the season.
All NPL Women’s matches are available to watch live on NPL.TV.
Feature Match:
Lions FC v Gold Coast United
The two strongest sides in the competition will go head to head in a blockbuster battle this weekend.
With both Lions FC and Gold Coast United on equal points and eyeing off the Premiership, this round’s Feature Match will prove crucial in the quest for top spot come season’s end.
Lions FC come into Round 16 off the back of a surprising defeat to Eastern Suburbs last weekend, falling to a 1-0 loss in their Round 11 clash.
That result brought an end to the current ladder leaders’ eight-match winning streak which included recent victories over Moreton Bay, QAS, Logan Lightning and Gap FC.
Lions scored five or more goals in each of their last four wins, securing a total of 26 goals across four games.
They’ll need to get back to these winning ways against Gold Coast United if they are to stay in Premiership contention with just two matches remaining for the Richlands side.
Gold Coast United meanwhile haven’t played a match since last week’s mid-week clash against Souths United after their weekend fixture against SWQ Thunder fell victim to the wet weather.
The Gold Coast side only just scraped through with a win in their Tuesday night encounter with Souths, securing the three points only thanks to a 92nd minute Isabella Habuda winner.
That win marked their fifth in a row, with their last taste of defeat coming last month with a Round 12 3-2 result against Eastern Suburbs – a defeat which they have in common with this weekend’s opponents Lions FC.
Gold Coast United have handed Lions one of their three losses this season, in a Round 5 2-0 win back in August, so will bring plenty of confidence into the clash considering this, and will no doubt look to repeat the feat this weekend.
Match Details
Saturday, 31 October, 6pm
Lions Stadium
Live Stream Link
Other Key Matches:
Eastern Suburbs v Capalaba FC
Eastern Suburbs find themselves on the brink of a top four finish as they come into a Round 16 clash with Capalaba FC.
They’ll bring three straight wins into the clash, securing the three points in recent weeks against Gap FC, SWQ Thunder and ladder leaders Lions FC.
Last week’s upset victory over Lions should give Easts plenty of confidence coming into the weekend as they look to make it two straight wins against top three sides.
They currently sit in fifth on equal points with Logan Lightning, so Easts will need the win to remain in contention for finals football.
Before last week’s bye, Capalaba FC secured two consecutive wins against Mitchelton FC and Souths United, scoring four goals in each match.
The top three side will be keen to extend their winning run this weekend to set themselves up for success in the weeks leading up to the Finals Series.
Last time this weekend’s opponents clashed, Capalaba recorded a 3-2 win in Round 5.
Match Details
Saturday, 31 October, 5:15pm
Heath Park
Live Stream Link
Logan Lightning v SWQ Thunder
Currently sitting in fourth on equal points with Eastern Suburbs, Lions FC can strengthen their chances of a finals finish with a win against SWQ Thunder this weekend.
To do so though they’ll need to turn around their recent results, with the side recording three losses and one draw in their last four.
Two of these losses came in tough encounters against top two sides Lions FC and Gold Coast United though, while their match against Gap FC mid-week saw Logan record a 2-0 loss as the game was abandoned early due to weather conditions.
Their last win came in Round 13 last month against Souths United, so Logan Lightning will no doubt be eager to get back in the winners’ circle this round.
Their opponents SWQ Thunder last tasted success at the start of the month in a 4-1 victory against Eastern Suburbs, while their clash last weekend against Gold Coast United fell victim to the wet weather.
Last time the two sides met, Logan secured a 4-0 win in their Round 5 match.
Match Details
Saturday, 31 October, 4:45pm
Cornubia Park
Live Stream Link
Other Round 16 Matches
Souths United v Mitchelton FC
Saturday, 31 October, 4pm
Wakerley Park
Live Stream Link
QAS v Moreton Bay United
Saturday, 31 October, 7pm
Meakin Park
Live Stream Link
Players to Watch
Mariel Hecher (Lions FC): The Lions skipper could lead her side to success this weekend in their must-win clash with Gold Coast United, with Hecher’s recent form earning her a spot in the most recent Team of the Week.
Rosie Sutton (Eastern Suburbs): Sutton has scored five goals in Easts’ last four matches, and will need to find the back of the net again this weekend to help her side’s chances of a top four finish.
Charlotte Farmer (Gold Coast United): Farmer’s recent form has seen her secure a spot in the last two Team of the Week sides, so she is set to make an impact again this weekend against the ladder leaders.
Image: Kyoko K/Gold Coast United