Brisbane Strikers warmed up for a tense final month of NPL Queensland fixtures on Monday night with a resounding 17-0 win against a select side from docked aircraft carrier USS George Washington at Perry Park.

The Strikers defeated the side representing Carrier Air Wing Five – one of two teams on the more than 6000 crew vessel – before a small but enthusiastic crowd of local football fans as well as visiting US service personnel.

While Strikers proved a cut above their part-time opponents – taking a 9-0 lead into the half time break – the match remained a friendly in the truest sense of the word as Strikers supporters barracked for the Navy underdogs.

Strikers coach David Large took the opportunity to tinker with his formation, testing his players in unfamiliar positions as well as giving a cameo to assistant coach Graham Harvey, who repaid his mentor with a second-half goal.

American import Kyle Luetkehans scored three goals for Strikers in the friendly hit-out, including the opener in the first minute of the match. He admitted the run would serve him well as he looks to adjust to football in Australia and the NPL.

“I joined the Strikers squad four weeks ago, played ninety minutes and also subbed in for a couple of games,” the Chicago-raised 24-year-old explained.

“I’ve been in fitness – and played a few days before leaving Finland – but it’s just a little different here with the weather and with the speed. It’s just attack, attack, attack,” the midfielder enthused.

Luetkehans played college football with the University of Vermont in the States before playing professionally in Finland for two seasons prior to joining Strikers.

Luetkehans said he would be better for the hit-out: “It was awesome having the guys here and, granted they probably haven’t had too much practice on the boat; but it was just great to be out there playing and a lot of our guys got on the score sheet too – so we spread it around a little bit.”

Luetkehans’ Strikers teammate Tim Walsh, 25, also hails from Chicago and came through the US college system at University of Tampa before stints in Brazil and Switzerland.

Walsh won last year’s Brisbane Premier League title with Wynnum Wolves before the defender joined Strikers for the inaugural NPL Queensland campaign.

Both Americans admitted the irony wasn’t lost on either that they had travelled across the globe to find themselves playing against a team of their own countrymen.

Walsh said, “It was cool to have them here and just the fact we’re playing against them in Australia of all places. If it was back home I don’t know if it would’ve been as special, but it was really cool tonight.”

“It’s one of the beauties of soccer, or football, is that it brings everyone from all over the world together,” he continued. “The Navy guys were happy and surprised to see us out here too. It’s a small world and it’s always good to play against different opposition.”

Luetkehans seconded the sentiment: “I never could’ve predicted this – coming to Australia, playing a team of Americans while I was on the Australian side.”

“It was really cool and I have to thank the Navy guys for coming out – it was a blast.”

The third-placed Strikers continue their National Premier Leagues campaign at Perry Park this Saturday against Palm Beach Sharks. Kick-off is at 7:00pm, with the Under 20's playing the curtain raiser from 4:30pm.

 

Words and Image: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)