Own Goal Heartbreak For Strikers
Words: Steve Pitman, Brisbane Strikers
Image: Brisbane Strikers
A dramatic own goal in the final minutes has seen Palm Beach Sharks defeat Brisbane Strikers 3-2 at Perry Park on Sunday afternoon, ending the Brisbane club’s undefeated home record.
Sharks led at the break courtesy of first half goals to Justyn McKay and Nic Mircovic, before Strikers reined in the Gold Coast club with second half strikes to Matt Thurtell and Jheison Macuace.
However, the hosts were left devastated when centre half Dan Partridge inadvertently headed a late Sharks corner past his own goalkeeper to give up a share of the points.
Palm Beach began in sensational fashion, scoring inside the first minute when skipper Justin McKay arrived at the back post to finish off a cross from winger Mircovic. The Sharks captain side-footing an angled shot past Strikers goalkeeper David Chambers from eight yards.
A fiercely contested first half saw both set of defenders on top, before Sharks doubled their advantage three minutes from the break when Mircovic finished off some solid build-up from Daniel Dragicevic to shoot past Chambers from 15 yards.
But the fightback was on for the Strikers midway through the second half when Thurtell shimmied effortlessly past a defender and clipped the ball past diving Palm Beach goalkeeper Shane Vitakangas with the outside of his right foot for a superb individual goal.
Four minutes later Strikers levelled terms as winger Macuace beat Vitakangas with a stunning left-footed drive from wide out near the touchline 30 plus yards from goal.
A frantic last ten minutes saw chances come and go for both teams before the own goal ended the contest in Sharks favour.
Strikers coach Chay Hews refused to be downcast by the result. He said, “It was a disappointing first half, but in all honesty I’m pretty proud of the boys, who came back into it in the second half and probably should have won really.”
“In the second half we had enough chances to wrap it up and then we copped a soft one at the end”.
Brisbane Strikers 2 (Matt THURTELL 63', Jheison MACAUCE 67')
Palm Beach Sharks 3 (Justyn MCKAY 1', Nic MIRCOVIC 42', own goal 89')
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