Words: Bree Reidy
Additional Reporting: Paul Smith
Images: Paul Smith

A dramatic late penalty from Majok Piok has seen SWQ Thunder edge Redlands United 2-1 at Clive Berghofer Stadium.

The decisive strike sees Thunder's 2016 renaissance gather pace and lifts the Toowoomba-based club into third on the league table.

The hosts started strong as Mustafa Jafari handed the hosts an early lead only to be cancelled out by a Michael Lee strike in the first half.

Both teams looked set to share the spoils before Piok's penalty delivered Thunder their first ever win over the Red Devils.

The result extends Thunder's best ever return in a PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues season - with 18 rounds still to be played.

It also marks a second straight defeat for Redlands, who drop out of the top four for the first time this season.

Match Summary

6^’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Mustafa Jafari tests the waters early on but shots straight at Brendon White in goals.

9^’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS - Redlands with the reply but Lachlan Atkinson blocks their attempt on goal.

13’- GOAL FOR THUNDER – A Jackson Haussler header unleashes Thomas Fanning down the left wing before linking up with Mustafa Jafari who finds the back of the net.

16^’- CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Jafari eyes his second for the night but his effort shaves the outside of the upright.    

26^’- CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Fanning gets a shot away across goal but it’s off target and goes just wide.

30’ – GOAL FOR REDLANDS - Michael Lee cuts back inside the 18 yard box, catching Luke Borean on the wrong foot leaving him no choice but to watch the equaliser fly in.

35^’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER - Thunder shot on goal by Xavier Pratt which hit the upright

39^’- CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Jafari again, this time from outside the 18 yard box but his drive is off target and goes wide.

43^’-  CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – Redlands look to secure the lead before half time but Borean puts in the block to keep the score level.

64’- CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – Borean forced into action after Redlands quick team passing sees a shot away on goal.

65’ REFEREE SUBSITUTION - Assistant Referee Ethan Quinlan replaced by Stephen Potticary after going to ground with a cramp.

90’- GOAL FOR THUNDER – A hand ball call on Michael McGowan in the box sees Thunder earn a penalty, with substitute Majok Pior sending White the wrong way to clinch the victory.

What They Said

“Watching the ball from the bench was actually pretty good so when I came on I knew how to adjust. I was practicing penalties with Mustafa yesterday and he could see that I was confident when taking them. He wanted me to step up and take it so I thought why not.” – Majok Piok, SWQ Thunder FC

“We knew all week it was going to be a tough game having watched what Thunder have done at the start of the season. Obviously they scored first, we scored very quickly to equalise and in the second half we kept playing. Our movement in and around the box was good but not sharp enough and we’ll possibly work on some of the things we need to do defensively in those wider areas.” – Matt Chandler, Redlands United FC 

 

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 4
Saturday, March 19
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba

SWQ Thunder FC 2 defeat Redlands United FC 1

SWQ Thunder FC

Goals – Mustafa JAFARI 13’, Majok PIOK 90’p
Yellow cards – Lachlan ATKINSON 54’, Majok PIOK 85’
Red cards – none

Squad – 1. Luke BOREAN, 2. Rowan SALOMON, 3. Keagan SHERIDAN, 4. Benjamin BARROWCLIFT, 5. Xavier PRATT (Jack PERCY 60'), 6. Jackson HAUSSLER, 7. Thomas FANNING (17. Trent BOWLES 87’), 8. Lachlan ATKINSON, 10. Mustafa JAFARI, 15. Kevin DOYLE (11. Majok PIOK 55’), 18. Jacob BIGBY

Unused – 12. Matthew HULL, 20. Jayden FORMOSA

Redlands United FC

Goals – Michael LEE 30’
Yellow cards – Michael MCGOWAN 89’
Red cards - none

Squad – 1. Brendan WHITE, 2. Michael MCGOWAN 3. Grant BRIX, 5. Paul O’Brien, 6. Gregory WARDEN (8. Russell WOODRUFFE 70’), 7. Michael LEE, 10. Nicolas BECHAR, 11. Graham FYFE, 12. Adam CHANDLER, 14. Nicholas DANICIC, 16. Igor SAO JOSE

Unused – 15. Doyle BISSETT, 17. Samual LANGLEY, 20. James EDGAR

Match Officials – Andrew LINDSAY (referee), Alex HOHN (assistant), Ethan QUINLAN (assistant), Stephen POTTICARY (fourth)