Fire Blaze Six Past City
Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Emily Wilson/Sunshine Coast FC
Sunshine Coast FC made a spectacular start to their PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland 2015 campaign, defeating Brisbane City 6-0 at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday.
Brady Cronk and Jacob Fulluck each scored a double for Fire, while Reyze Kelly and Ray Schultz also added their names to the scoresheet in the six-goal rout.
Fire sparked the better of the early chances despite City enjoying the bulk of possession.
The hosts took the lead just after the quarter hour when Cronk headed home from a Fire corner kick.
The situation only worsened for City late in the half when defender Will Jordan was substituted with an injury before Reyze Kelly doubled the advatage by turning in a rebound from his initial shot.
Fire established a three-goal lead immediately prior to the half-time break when Cronk netted his second after rounding City goalkeeper Matt Lugo.
City came more into the contest in the second half but the frustrations continued in front of goal as Antonio Murray and Luke Leggett both sent attempts wide.
Despite the contest proving more even Fire eventually ran away in the final half hour as Ray Schultz delivered the fourth goal with a tap in at the back post on 67 minutes.
Substitute Fulluck then iced the performance with two goals in the closing stages on his debut - converting a penalty he earned for his first and then rounding out the scoring in time added on with a tap-in from Louis Shephard's cross.
Speaking after the match, Fire player-coach Paul Arnison said he was pleased his side had settled after a slightly nervy start.
“I think the boys were a little bit edgy and didn’t want to make a mistake. But once we got into our style of play and the boys relaxed a little bit we scored some great goals especially off the set-pieces where we looked dangerous,” he said.
City coach Glen Volker conceded his side’s performance was disappointing.
“We didn’t play well. We were slow with the ball, we turned it over cheaply and didn’t transition as well as we would’ve liked,” he said.
Sunshine Coast FC 6 (Brady CRONK 16' 45', Reyze KELLY 40', Ray SCHULTZ 67', Jacob FULLUCK 86'(p) 90+1')
Brisbane City FC 0
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