The NPL and FQPL Men’s competitions return this weekend after a month of inactivity due to the COVID-enforced break.  

Round 22 of the NPL kicks off on Friday night as 11th-placed Gold Coast United take on a resurgent Capalaba side that has won three games in a row.  

Saturday night is headlined by a Semi Final rematch between runaway league leaders Peninsula Power and defending NPL Champions Lions FC. 

At the other end of the ladder, three clubs – Magpies Crusaders United, Redlands United and Brisbane Strikers – remain locked in a relegation dogfight and are all in action on Saturday night. 

Magpies Crusaders travel south to play Logan Lightning, while Redlands face Brisbane Roar and the Strikers take on Moreton Bay United. 

On Sunday, Sunshine Coast Wanderers and Olympic FC have their sights on the top four in their games against Eastern Suburbs and Gold Coast Knights respectively. 

In FQPL 1, Rochedale Rovers are one point clear of nearest challenger Brisbane City at the top of the ladder. 

But the Rovers have a bye this weekend and City, who have four games in hand, play Sunshine Coast FC on Sunday afternoon. 

A win for seventh-placed Sunshine Coast would keep them in contention for the finals, although Western Pride, Southside Eagles and Mitchelton FC are looking most likely to secure fourth spot. 

Pride will host Holland Park Hawks on Friday night, while Southside Eagles and Mitchelton play Ipswich Knights and SWQ Thunder respectively on Saturday.  

Meanwhile, the main game in the FQPL 2 is a top-of-the-table clash between Caboolture FC and Taringa Rovers, while North Star, Magic United and Samford Rangers are pushing for a top four spot. 

Fans can watch all First Grade NPL and FQPL matches LIVE on NPL.TV, free for Australian residents.  

Feature Matches: 

Olympic FC v Gold Coast Knights 

Second plays fifth this Sunday at Goodwin Park as Olympic FC host in-form Gold Coast Knights. 

Olympic FC are currently fifth on the ladder, two points behind fourth-placed Sunshine Coast Wanderers, and have won just one of their past four games. 

However, that solitary win for Olympic was against league-leaders Peninsula Power – proof that on their day Olympic can match it with any team in Queensland. 

Olympic are also a difficult team to beat at home, having only lost one game this season at Goodwin Park. 

But Knights are one of the form teams of the competition having bounced back from their Round 17 loss to Capalaba with two wins in a row. 

The last time these two sides met, in Round 9, Olympic came away with a 2-0 win. Another win for Olympic could see them move into the top four. 

Match Details
Sunday 29 August, 6:00pm
Goodwin Park, Yeronga 

Caboolture FC v Taringa Rovers 

A highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash awaits in FQPL 2 with league-leaders Caboolture FC hosting their nearest challengers Taringa Rovers. 

Caboolture have not dropped points in their past eight home games while Taringa are undefeated in eight games on the road. 

Both sides have been in terrific form this season and while Caboolture have the best attacking and defensive records, Taringa are not far behind. 

Taringa have the runaway Golden Boot leader in Sean Karambasis, although Caboolture have more depth in attack with four players having scored six goals or more this season. 

Taringa have not dropped points in their last three games, although their last defeat was against Caboolture in Round 13.  

Eight points behind Caboolture with just five games to play, Taringa will need a win this weekend to keep their premiership hopes alive.  

Match Details
Friday 27 August, 7:30pm
Moreton Bay Sports Complex, Burpengary 

Key players: 

Cai Tipaldo (Gold Coast Knights): Has scored five goals in the Knights’ last five outings, including a crucial double in their last game against Logan. 

Lachlan Hunter (Olympic FC): The Olympic goalkeeper has kept nine clean sheets this season to help his side maintain the league’s second-best defensive record. 

Shuto Kuboyama (Mitchelton): The sharpshooter has been motoring along at a rate of almost a goal a game since joining Mitchelton this season. 

Sean Karambasis (Taringa Rovers): Taringa’s gun striker will need to fire if the Rovers are to upset Caboolture at home on Friday night. 

Click here for the NPL Round 22 Schedule. 

Click here for the FQPL 1 Round 21 Schedule. 

Click here for the FQPL 2 Round 20 Schedule. 

 Image: Gold Coast Knights