Semi Final excitement sets in this weekend as the state’s three premier competitions serve up six mouth-watering matches on Saturday and Sunday.
With Grand Final spots up for grabs and the top NPL Men’s, NPL Women’s and Football Queensland Premier League (FQPL) teams in action, it’s time to get set for immense drama and entertainment.
Watch all matches live on NPL.TV, free for Australian residents.
NPL Men’s
Semi Final 1: Peninsula Power v Lions
Peninsula Power have gone from first in the FQPL in 2018 to first in the NPL Men’s in 2020.
Now, we’re about to find out whether the Redcliffe club can cap off that incredible rise by claiming Grand Final glory in about a week’s time.
Aaron Philp’s men must first reach the Grand Final to be a chance of winning it and Lions FC are a formidable opponent blocking their path.
Peninsula looked to be the superior side when Lions visited AJ Kelly Park just last weekend, as Andy Pengelly, Daniel Clark and Brenton Fox scored second-half goals in a 3-0 home win.
But the do-or-die pressure of Finals Series football gives this contest a whole new complexion, particularly for two teams who both fell in the Semi Finals in 2019.
There will be stars aplenty on show but Peninsula playmaker Clark looms as the main man to watch after scoring in five of his past six appearances.
Match Details
Saturday, 21 November, 6:30pm
AJ Kelly Park
Live Stream Link
Semi Final 2: Olympic FC v Gold Coast Knights
Though it seems like a lifetime ago, we’re just 14 months removed from the epic 2019 NPL Men’s Grand Final that saw Gold Coast Knights defeat Olympic FC at a rocking Perry Park.
In terms of on-field excellence, not much has changed.
These two teams are still a joy to watch and have an abundance of quality players to call upon: Mitch Nichols, Daniel Leck, Harrison Sawyer and Steve Whyte are among the many standouts.
Tasuku Sekiya is perhaps the player who has captured the most attention since arriving in Queensland during the mid-season hiatus and Olympic will hope he can help them gain revenge against the reigning Champions.
Knights had to settle for a third-place finish at the end of the regular season but have built up ominous form in recent weeks, scoring 12 goals across their past three games.
Match Details
Sunday, 22 November, 6:00pm
Goodwin Park
Live Stream Link
NPL Women’s
Semi Final 1: Gold Coast United v Logan Lightning
Gold Coast United put a fitting seal on a stunning home-and-away campaign when they wrapped up the NPL Women’s Premiership with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over QAS in the final round.
Celebrations must be put on hold, however, with the dangerous Logan Lightning looking to pull off an upset in the first Semi Final at Coplick Family Sports Park this Saturday.
All indications point to this being a close contest. Just a single goal separated the sides in their Round 7 and Round 21 meetings, with Gold Coast narrowly prevailing on both occasions.
Though left empty handed, Logan can take confidence from successfully denying prolific United forward Isabella Habuda any goals over the course of those two games.
The Canadian scored 19 times throughout the regular season and lines up alongside other elite performers like Eloise Fryer, Ayesha Norrie and Rie Kitano.
Logan, meanwhile, will look for inspiration from experienced leaders like Amy Jackson, Kristi New and Meaghan McElligott amid a high-stakes setting.
Match Details
Saturday, 21 November, 5:00pm
Coplick Family Sports Park
Live Stream Link
Semi Final 2: Lions FC v Capalaba FC
Last season’s double-winners are no longer Premiers but it would be extremely dangerous to discount them going into the Finals Series.
Lions FC scored more goals and conceded fewer than all other teams throughout the 20-round regular season – an indication of just how difficult it will be to deny them a second successive Championship.
Their lethal attack contains the competition’s top scorer in new Brisbane Roar signing Mariel Hecher and another free-scoring forward in Amy Gunston, who between them have scored 39 times this season.
Despite that firepower, don’t expect Capalaba FC to overawed.
The Bulldogs themselves boast plenty of bite going forward – Stephanie Latham struck 16 times in 2020 – and a good deal of Westfield W-League experience too.
Match Details
Saturday, 21 November, 7:00pm
Lions Stadium
Live Stream Link
FQPL
Semi Final 2: SWQ Thunder FC v Mitchelton FC
After finishing just two points behind Premiers and promotion-winners Logan Lightning, SWQ Thunder must now move past that disappointment and set their sights on silverware.
Booking a Grand Final berth would be a great way to begin a new chapter and the Toowoomba team have the opportunity to do that with a strong crowd behind them at Clive Berghofer Stadium this Saturday.
For Mitchelton FC, this Semi Final is a chance to accelerate the impressive development that saw them improve from fifth in 2019 to third in 2020.
Alexander Sartori’s seven goals fuelled the rise up the ladder and the Mustangs need strikers like him to fire after failing to find the net in either of their two previous meetings with SWQ this season.
Match Details
Saturday, 21 November, 5:00pm
Clive Berghofer Stadium
Live Stream Link
Semi Final 1: Logan Lightning v Wolves FC
No team will be on a bigger high heading into the first week of the Finals Series than Logan.
Rick Coghlan’s side are fresh from sealing promotion to the top tier and now have the added incentive of doing the double in 2020.
Lightning’s dogged defence ultimately proved the bedrock of their run to the title, giving up just 19 goals in 20 games.
In fact, only one team managed to put more than two past the FQPL’s stingiest defence in a single game – and it was none other than their Semi Final opponents, Wolves FC.
The match in question ended in a rollicking 4-3 victory for Logan, who will have taken note of the trouble Carlton Westerdale and Max Mikkola gave them.
The two Wolves attackers finished the regular season with a combined 20 goals and are sure to relish the heightened attention of this box office affair at Cornubia Park.
Match Details
Saturday, 21 November, 6:30pm
Cornubia Park
Live Stream Link
