Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Anthony Napli/Brisbane City

A single own goal saw Brisbane City conclude their NPL Queensland season last night with a win, defeating Sunshine Coast Fire 1-0 at Spencer Park.

Wade Zammit clumsily turned the ball into his own net early into the second half after Antonio Murray struck the post on the break for City.

The goal was all that separated the teams in a tight contest that saw City end the match with nine men after Daniel Sharov and Young Jae Joo were both issued red cards in the final minutes of the match.

With both sides out of finals contention and destined for a mid-table finish, the hard-fought match proved a suitable end to frustrating campaigns for both sides.

Fire captain Paul Arnison chanced his arm twice from distance early, however genuine chances were hard to come by for both teams in the first half.

City didn’t test Fire goalkeeper Antony Hall until 14 minutes, when Murray and City captain Matt Biggins saw a pair of strikes saved.

Biggins delivered a stinging volley from the top of the box on 20 minutes following a well-placed cross from Nick Buckley, however the attempt was again held by the alert Hall.

A purple patch followed for Fire on the half hour as Jordan Miller teed up Jayke Cuschieri at the top of the box, only for his well-struck shot to skim over the top of the cross bar.

James Verdin fed Jacob Fulluck five minutes later for the visitors, however the young attacker sent his effort high and wide of the target.

A minute later, Arnison delivered a pin-point cross for Fulluck, who again missed the target with a headed effort from ten yards.

City’s best chance of the half came in the final minute when Alistair Pase broke on the counter and slipped a sublime pass for Biggins, who sent his first-time shot just wide of the post.

The breakthrough for City came inside a minute of the restart when Murray broke free of the high Fire line – his shot cannoning back off the far post for Zammit, who couldn't control the rebound and steered it into his own net.

City saw another goal disallowed three minutes later when Murray turned in Buckley’s ball towards the far post from an offside position.

Further chances proved elusive for both sides for extended periods as the hour passed.

Joo’s ball over the top released Pase on 74 minutes, however Hall was alert to the danger to advance off his line and shut down the City attacker.

Attempts from Murray and Biggins failed to find the target soon after, before Kai Smith attempted a back-heeled attempt amidst a crowded penalty area to draw a save from Hall.

Fire spurned the chance to salvage a point when Miller’s teasing ball across the face eluded his Fire teammates running through in support.

A spate of incidents in injury time provided a lively close to the season as Sharov was issued a straight red card following a tussle with Doug Neil.

City substitute Ben Romyn struck the post with a well-struck shot on the break, before Joo was also sent from the field for a second bookable offence on Schoichi Koshimizu.

The win means City will finish the season no lower than seventh and, depending on the result of Thursday’s match between Redlands United and South West Queensland Thunder, could finish as high as sixth.

Fire finish their season in eighth position, ahead of Harimau Muda ‘A’ and Brisbane Roar NYL.

Brisbane City 1 (own goal 46’)
Sunshine Coast Fire 0