Olympic Fall To Lions In Pre-Season
Words: Michael Flynn
There was little pre-Christmas cheer for Olympic FC on Tuesday night when they fell 3-2 to Lions FC in their pre-season friendly at CJ Greenfield Reserve.
Lions held the lead for all but three minutes of a typically attacking pre-season match that was contested over three thirty minute periods.
The defending Brisbane Premier League Premiers opened accounts inside the opening five minutes when Andre Bonotto beat Brandon Cuminao from an early penalty kick.
Searching for an equaliser, Olympic midfielder Sam Cronin was denied by the post with a deflected effort from the edge of the box just after the quarter hour.
However, Lions soon doubled their advantage when Marco Jankovic won possession in midfield and launched a counter that was finished by Tim Morgan at the far post.
Olympic had to wait until the second stanza to pull a goal back when Cronin rifled home a free-kick from the edge of the area.
Half-chances continued at both ends but the hosts held the advantage into the final period.
They regained their two goal buffer after the hour when ex-Western Pride player Jason Pillay’s strike deflected kindly off the post, enabling Tarig Hammad to turn home the rebound.
Olympic replied via an own goal entering the final ten minutes – Jankovic’s attempted clearance of Matt Heath’s cross crashing in off the crossbar – but ultimately could not reel in their opponents.
Speaking post-match, Olympic coach Jim Bellas said he was unconcerned by the result and took positives from the performance.
“For a first hit-out for us I thought we kept the ball well but we just got tired. But I saw some good signs,” Bellas said.
Olympic are yet to announce signings for the 2016 campaign but several players from last year’s squad took the field for the three-time Semi-Finalists – including Cronin, Cuminao and Heath.
Also amongst the trialists were former Brisbane City winger and PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Under 23 All-Star Ryan Roderick and released Brisbane Roar Youth midfielder Logan Grillo.
The match was the final pre-season friendly involving PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland clubs prior to the new year.
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday, December 22
C.J. Greenfield Reserve, Brisbane
Lions FC 3 (Andre BONOTTO 3’p, Tim MORGAN 19’, Tarig HAMMAD 68’)
Olympic FC 2 (Sam CRONIN 54’, own goal 81’)
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