Words: Michael Flynn, Brisbane City
Image: Keith Eigeland, Football Queensland

Brisbane City extended their winning run to four games on Saturday night, accounting for local rivals Brisbane Strikers 2-1 despite finishing a man down at Spencer Park.

A pair of stunning second half strikes from Luca Perico and Koh Satake proved decisive for the hosts, overturning Strikers midfielder Keenan Duimpies’ first-half penalty.

However, City were forced to close out the hard-fought derby with ten men after Perico was shown a straight red card with 15 minutes remaining.

A disjointed affair from the outset, a smattering of half-chances fell at either end in the early stages as both sides struggled to settle.

Perico’s lobbed ball on 12 minutes provided the first clear-cut offering – City captain Matt Biggins nodding on for Nick Buckley before the forward dragged his shot wide of the target.

Strikers were awarded a penalty soon after when Jackson Hall’s cross was cleared into the arm Cameron Tew as the City fullback lay prone after losing his footing inside the area in the lead-up – Duimpies converting the spot kick for his second goal of the season.

Both sides proved wasteful in possession and struggled for fashion further chances until late in the half when Buckley forced a full-stretched save from Strikers goalkeeper David Chambers and teammate Jae Young Joo’s long range snap shot bounced back off the post.

The side’s exchanged counter-punches after the restart as Perico’s swerving shot faded just wide of the target and Strikers forward Matt Thurtell’s lobbed attempt bounced back off the underside of the crossbar.

Biggins failed to capitalise on a solid solo run on the hour, skirting three defenders only to clutch at his shot from the edge of the area.

However, Perico broke the shackles for the hosts six minutes later by rifling a 30 yard free-kick in at the far post past the outstretched Chambers for his second goal of the season.

The equaliser briefly opened up the contest as Duimpies’ cross-cum-shot bounced back off the far post into the arms of Stein and the City ‘keeper cleared up field for Buckley, who skewed his strike across the face of goal.

The hosts started to wrest control as Alistair Pase drew a reflex save from Chambers at the near post, but were delivered a blow on 74 minutes when Perico was shown a red card in an off-the-ball incident as City lined-up a free-kick.

Overcoming the numerical disadvantage, the momentum remained with City and the hosts soon took the lead through Satake – the substitute’s flat strike bouncing in off the far post from 20 yards.

With five minutes remaining Satake spurned the chance of a brace when he poked wide of the near post from close range after being slipped in by Buckley.

Despite regaining the bulk of possession in the final minutes Strikers failed to genuinely trouble for the equaliser –Jheison Macauce coming closest in injury time with a header that looped well over the cross bar.

The result sees the two sides level on 29 points in the league standings and marks the first time City have defeated Strikers after three previous NPL Queensland losses against their capital city rivals.

Brisbane City 2 (Luca PERICO 66’, Koh SATAKE 80’)
Brisbane Strikers 1 (Keenan DUIMPIES 16’p)