Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Sam Flanagan
Images: David Wadsworth

FNQ Heat have stormed into equal first on the table following a comfortable 3-1 win over a ten-man Olympic FC at Goodwin Park.

Heat raced to an early lead via skipper Jamie Carroll before Olympic’s hopes were all but scuttled by the dismissal of Kosi Yannakopoulos.

The visitors taking advantage with further goals to Joshua Pin and Crios O’Hare, with Olympic only able to find consolation via a Youeil Shol strike.

The result marks three consecutive wins for Heat over Olympic – and the second straight year they have taken three points in Brisbane – after the side’s memorable clash in the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2014 Finals Series.

It also marks a winning debut for Heat coach Tim Campbell in his first PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues match.

Key Moments

6^’ – GOAL FOR HEAT - Heat captain Jamie Carroll is released by a lobbed ball from deep and chips his finish over the onrushing Nicholas Mooney with ease

14^’- RED CARD FOR OLYMPIC – Kosi Yannakopoulos is sent for an early shower after bringing down Heat defender Ari Isman in a late and reckless challenge for a fifty-fifty ball

26^’ – GOAL FOR HEAT– Winger Joshua Pin heads home from close range after Heat striker Kieran Sanders was wrecking havoc in the box before laying off a classy chipped pass

29^’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Fullback Shaun Owen plays a long ball for Jamie Carroll and the captain once again finds himself one on one with Nicholas Mooney, but this time the goalkeeper wins the contest

53’ – PENALTY SAVED FOR OLYMPIC – Keiran Sanders gets through one-on-one and Nicholas Mooney brings him down with a sliding challenge. However, the Olympic goalkeeper makes amends by saving the spot kick from Jamie Gosling

64’ – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – Striker Youeil Shol does it all himself with a long run down the left wing before cutting in and burying his shot under Heat keeper Kevin Ward to get give his side hope of a comeback.

87’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Substitute Crios O’Hare seals the win with a dynamic run down the pitch and neat finish.

What They Said

“I think (Keiran Sanders and Jamie Carroll) are going to do really well. I don’t have too many concerns with them but it’s getting the ball to them which we struggled a little bit with today. We went round about it a little bit and played a little bit wide for my liking. I like to get it into the feet and we didn’t do that too well to be honest.” – Tim Campbell, FNQ Heat coach

“When young Kosi Yannakopoulos got sent off it was an uphill battle but we fought back in the second half and got it to 2-1. But with a man down in the heat that probably cost us.” – Jim Bellas, Olympic FC coach

 

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 1
Sunday, February 28
Goodwin Park, Brisbane

FNQ Heat 3 defeat Olympic FC 1

OLYMPIC FC

Goals – Youeil SHOL 64’
Yellow cards – James CUMINAO 22’, Logan GRILLO 59’
Red cards – Kosi YANNAKOPOULOS 14’

Squad - 1. Nicholas MOONEY, 2. Liam O’BRYAN, 3. James CUMINAO, 4. Robert IRVING, 5. Scott BOW, 6. Matt MUNDY, 7. Logan GRILLO (19. Matthew GORDON), 10. Daniel BYRNE, 14. Kosi YANNAKOPOULOS, 15. Sam CRONIN (9. Abel FESSEHA), 17. Youeil SHOL

Unused – 18 Nathan CASTIGLIONE, 20. Dakota SPRANGE

FNQ FC HEAT

Goals –Jamie CARROLL 6’, Joshua PIN 26, Christopher O’HARE 87’
Yellow cards – Keiran SANDERS 72’
Red cards – none

Squad – 1. Kevin WARD, 2. Shaun OWENS, 3. Shimon WATANABE, 4. Charlie BEVERLEY, 5. Ari ISMAN, 6. Jamie GOSLING, 7. Joshua PIN (12. Cameron NUCIFORA 73’), 9. Jamie CARROL (8. Christopher O’HARE 59’), 10. Keiran SANDERS (13. Mqondisi NKIWANE 80’), 11. Darcy MCCORMACK, 16. Bronson KOPPEN

Unused – 15. Matthew FILIP, 20. Joshua WILSON