Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Callum Dick
Images: Ray Gardner

Sunshine Coast FC remain in the finals hunt after seeing off a spirited Redlands United 3-2 at Cleveland Showgrounds.

Fire made the most of limited opportunities to lead at half-time through Jeremy Stewart before goals either side of the hour to Paul Mikula and Shoichi Koshimizu put paid to a Redlands fightback.

Earlier, Redlands pulled level via Michael Lee but were unable to reel Fire in again in the final quarter hour despite pulling a goal back via debutant Lucas Chaim.

The result marks a third straight win for Fire and continues a four year unbeaten run at the bayside venue in PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues.

Redlands second straight defeat sees their place in the top four become increasingly precarious and relying on other results to remain in the finals placings come round's end.

Key Moments

18’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – Redlands counter through Igor Sao Jose, who strikes from distance but is denied by a diving Samuel Nickolls in the Fire goal

21’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – Noticing Nickolls off his line, Graham Fyfe sends a dipping ball from 40 yards that barely misses the top of the crossbar

45+1’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – Kai Halliday fails to clear a long throw into the Redlands defences allowing Stewart to poke home the opener on the stroke of half-time

49’ – CHANCE FOR FIRE – Christopher Jancevski’s powerful header bounces over the crossbar to the relief of Redlands goalkeeper Jonathon Burrowes

51’ – GOAL FOR REDLANDS – Michael Lee is on the spot to finish into an empty net after Nickolls fails to defuse a ball into the box

56’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – Paul Mikula’s header bounces off the underside of the crossbar and across the line to immediately restore the visitor’s advantage

70’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – An outstretched Shoichi Koshimizu manages to redirect a cross past Burrowes from close range and extend the visitors’ lead

72’ – GOAL FOR REDLANDS – Substitute Lucas Chaim pulls a goal back on debut after calmly curling a ball around the advancing Nickolls

83’ – CHANCE FOR FIRE – Jordan Loy unloads from 25 yards but his shot scrapes the top of the crossbar

85’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – Michael Lee looks certain to equalise for the home side, however Nickolls manages to get a toe on the ball and deflect wide

What They Said

“You can’t play 45 minutes of football and expect to get a result. We need to address that. We can be really good in one half, but we need to be good in two halves if we want to win games like this.” – Matt Chander, Redlands United FC coach

“We can now compete with any teams in the top four. We’ve turned this team around from one that struggled to win a game (into a team) that can now compete. We set a goal at the start of the season to finish halfway (up the table) and I think we can achieve that.” – Sam Saif, Sunshine Coast FC coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 17

Saturday, July 9
Cleveland Showgrounds, Redland City

Redlands United FC – 2 (Michael LEE 53’, Lucas CHAIM 73’)
Sunshine Coast FC – 3 (Jeremy STEWART 45+1’, Paul MIKULA 56’, Shoichi KOSHIMIZU 70’)

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/29sj4li

Match Officials –Lara SMITH (referee), Albert KRAUSE (assistant), Chris LONG (assistant), Cameron FAWCETT (fourth)