Five Goal Fire Scorches Red Devils
Words & Image: Redlands United
Sunshine Coast Fire netted three penalties to comfortably account for Redlands United 5-1 at Cleveland Showgrounds on Sunday.
Futa Nakamura scored a brace, while Paul Arnison, Reyze Kelly and Jordan Miller rounded out the visitor’s five goal haul. Elliot Ronto scored a consolation goal for Redlands.
Fire put the hosts under pressure from the start and conceded a penalty for handball barely nine minutes into the contest – Nakamura sending Redlands goalkeeper Andrew Ralph the wrong way from the spot to open the scoring.
The visitors stifled much of Redlands attacking momentum and were awarded a second penalty ten minutes later – this time converted by Reyze Kelly despite Ralph getting a touch.
Redlands fought their way back on 26 minutes when Nico Bechar’s pin-point left-sided cross found the head of an unmarked Ronto at the back post to reduce the margin.
The hosts spurned the chance to pull level when Ronto’s set-up Jayden Prasad, but the young attacker’s deflected strike was saved by Fire custodian Sam Nickolls.
Bechar continued to prove dangerous and a mazy run from the French winger on 33 minutes teed up Graham Fyfe at the top of the box only for the midfielder to guide his shot wide of the post.
Fire pulled further ahead soon after against the run of play when Miller controlled a diagonal ball before dispatching a composed near post finish.
The visitors effectively sealed the points prior to the break when Jed Zanos headed across goal from a free-kick, allowing Nakamura to turn the ball home for his 12th goal of the campaign.
The hosts remained stoic after the restart but soon found themselves four behind when Miller skirted a pair of Redlands defenders before being felled in the penalty area – Paul Arnison this time converting the spot kick.
Fire defended their lead from thereon with Michael Lee’s 60th minute strike off the crossbar proving the closest of the later chances.
Both sides remain in contention for finals football. Fire’s third straight win sees them sit two points adrift of the top four, while Redlands are a point behind in eighth place.
Redlands United 1 (Elliot RONTO 26’)
Sunshine Coast Fire 5 (Futa NAKAMURA 9’ 45’, Reyze KELLY 18’, Jordan MILLER 37’, Paul ARNISON 53’)
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