Round 3 of the National Premier Leagues (NPL) Queensland Men’s and Round 2 of the NPL Queensland Women’s gets underway this weekend.  

In the men’s competition, four clubs – Peninsula Power, Brisbane Roar Youth, Moreton Bay United and Olympic FC – are yet to lose a game, while Eastern Suburbs, Gold Coast United, Redlands United and Brisbane Strikers FC are all searching for their first win.  

In the women’s competition, the race is already on to make the top eight, with Capalaba and The Gap both set to play their first games of the season after last weekend’s fixture between the two sides was washed out. 

Fans can watch all First Grade NPL Men’s and Women’s matches live on NPL.TV, free for Australian residents. 

Feature matches:

Lions FC v Brisbane Roar Youth 

Brisbane Roar Youth have made a strong start to the new season, registering two consecutive wins and scoring seven goals and conceding just one along the way. 

Lions FC, on the other hand, have had a win and a loss, beating Gold Coast Knights 3-2 in the opening round before succumbing to a 3-2 defeat to Capalaba on Monday night. 

The Costa Rican striker, who came off the bench to create a dramatic last-minute winner against Gold Coast Knights in Round 1, will no doubt be looking to get on the score sheet himself this weekend. 

Young Roar are yet to beat Lions in an NPL fixture, but if they can continue their winning ways at Lions Stadium on Saturday night it will no doubt cement their position as a team to beat in 2021. 

Match Details:
Saturday 20 March, 7:15pm
Lions Stadium, Richlands
WATCH

Brisbane City v Capalaba FC  

A new entrant to NPL Women’s football, Brisbane City will be determined to start the season with back-to-back victories as they host Capalaba this weekend. 

City beat Sunshine Coast Wanderers 2-1 in Round 1 of the season, while Capalaba will be raring to go after its opening game against The Gap was washed out.  

In what should provide an extra element of intrigue to the match, Capalaba’s coach from last season, Skie Hanifin, is now in charge of Brisbane City.  

It will be the first NPL outing for Capalaba’s new coach, Archford Kahondo, who has come across town from Brisbane Women’s Premier League club Ipswich City.  

Capalaba will no doubt lean on the experience of Steph Latham and Amy Chapman, who were both on the scoresheet in the Bulldogs’ 6-0 win over Grange Thistle in the opening week of the Kappa Women’s Super Cup.  

But another win at home for Brisbane City would signal their intent as contenders to make the top eight before the season splits in half in June. 

Match Details:
Sunday 21 March, 4.30pm
Corporate Travel Management Stadium, Newmarket
WATCH

Key players: 

Jheison Macuace (Gold Coast Knights) – The Ecuadorian, who last week scored a hattrick against his old club Strikers FC, will be looking to continue his good form in front of goal in the Knights’ first home game of the season. 

Zac Anderson (Olympic FC) – The former A-League defender scored a goal last week in Olympic’s 3-2 win over Magpies Crusaders United and has not yet experienced a loss in the NPL Queensland. Will be tested this weekend against a confident Moreton Bay United side that has won two games in a row. 

Samantha Bambling (Moreton Bay United) – The sharpshooter scored a hattrick and was named in the NPL Women’s Team of the Week after her first outing for Moreton Bay last weekend. Big game on Friday night against last season’s grand finalists Logan Lightning. 

Sofie Persson (The Gap FC) – Big things are expected of the Swedish playmaker, who moved to The Gap this season and has been named captain for 2021. Will be fired up for The Gap’s first NPL match of the season against her old club Mitchelton.

NPL Men’s Schedule: 

Gold Coast Knights v Magpies Crusaders United
Saturday 20 March, 7:30pm 
Croatian Sports Centre, Carrara
WATCH 

Moreton Bay United v Olympic FC
Sunday 21 March, 4pm
Wolter Park, Albany Creek
WATCH  

Sunshine Coast Wanderers v Logan Lightning
Sunday 21 March, 4:15pm
Ballinger Park, Buderim
WATCH 

Peninsula Power v Gold Coast United
Sunday 21 March, 4:30pm
A J Kelly Park, Kippa Ring
WATCH 

Brisbane Strikers v Capalaba FC
Sunday 21 March, 6:00pm
Perry Park, Bowen Hills
WATCH 

Eastern Suburbs v Redlands United
Sunday 21 March, 6:15pm
Heath Park, East Brisbane
WATCH

NPL Women’s Schedule: 

The Gap FC v Mitchelton FC
Friday 19 March, 8:30pm
Walton Bridge Reserve, The Gap
WATCH 

Moreton Bay United v Logan Lightning
Friday 19 March, 8:30pm
Wolter Park, Albany Creek
WATCH 

Lions FC v Olympic FC
Saturday 20 March, 5:00pm
Lions Stadium, Richlands
WATCH 

Eastern Suburbs v Virginia United
Saturday 20 March, 5:15pm
Heath Park, East Brisbane
WATCH 

Souths United v SWQ Thunder
Saturday 20 March, 6:00pm
Wakerley Park, Runcorn
WATCH 

Gold Coast United v Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Saturday 20 March, 6:30pm
Coplick Family Sports Park, Tallebudgera
WATCH 

QAS v Western Pride
Saturday 20 March, 6:30pm
Clem Jones Field, Meakin Park
WATCH