Words: Michael Flynn, Palm Beach Sharks
Image: Jared Adamson, Palm Beach Sharks

Two goals in each half from striker Chris Lucas helped Palm Beach Sharks hold out a determined Harimau Muda 4-3 at Mallawa Complex on Saturday night.

Lucas shot to the top of the NPL Queensland Golden Boot charts with his second four goal haul of the campaign, scoring twice in each half to take his season tally to 29 goals.

The visitors forced a nervous close to the contest courtesy of goals to Nazirul Naim Che Hashim, Adam Nor Azlin and Muhd Arif Farhan Md Isa.

The league-leading Sharks made the perfect start when Lucas turned in a pin-point cross from right winger Daniel Dragicevic barely three minutes into the contest.

Sharks continued to apply early pressure as attacking midfielder Jonothan Camilleri then Dragicevic both saw shots deflect just wide of the target from the edge of the area.

Soon after Lucas outpaced defender Kenny Pallraj Davaragi on the counter attack - receiving Eoghan Murphy’s early release before poking home the finish ahead of the advances of goalkeeper Mohamad Firdaus Muhamad.

A brief burst of rain slickened the surface, stifling the chances and resulting in rash challenges from both sides before Harimau Muda reduced the margin through a well-worked team passing movement.

The visitors beat the concerted Sharks press with a series of one-touch passes, before unleashing Md Isa down the right – his cutback was touched on by Azlin to allow Che Hashim to slot home the finish.

Buoyed by the goal, Harimau Muda returned from half-time with renewed vigour, deploying a high press that unsettled the Sharks backline as Md Isa and Azlin combined to great effect.

The pairing produced several clear cut chances before Md Isa caught Shane Vitakangas on the ball from a back pass on 53 minutes allowing Azlin to swoop on the crumbs and finish into an empty net.

Sharks regained the lead less than a minute later when Lucas converted from the penalty spot after being held back on the burst by Shahrul Mohd Saad.

Harimau Muda again restored parity five minutes later as Md Isa received just reward for a busy performance by turning in a well-placed cross from Aziful Abdul Hakim at the right byline.

The contest became increasingly niggly as each team sought any advantage on offer before Lucas was felled by a late challenge by Davaragi on 68 minutes and again converted from the spot.

Sharks spurned the chance to seal the points as Dragicevic’s strike was double-fisted away by Muhamad and defender Kristian Rees headed across the face at the near post from a free-kick.

The hosts increasingly sought to close out the game but had to survive several shaky moments from the increasingly physical Malaysians.

Substitute Nurridzuan Abu Hassan came closest to salvaging a point in the final minutes by forcing Vitakangas to twice save at his near post on the angle.

The win sees Sharks maintain their eight point advantage atop the standings ahead of Olympic FC, while Harimau Muda remain in ninth.

Palm Beach Sharks 4 (Chris LUCAS 3’, 14’, 54’(pen), 68’(pen))
Harimau Muda ‘A’ 3 (Nazirul Naim CHE HASHIM 36’, Adam Nor AZLIN 53’, Muhd Arif Farhan MD ISA 59’)