Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Mark Guy
Images: Brian Monro

A vital three points eluded both Gold Coast City and Brisbane City as both sides settled for a 1-1 draw at a pock-marked Duncan McKenna Field.

Despite plenty of chances at both ends of the heavily worn pitch, neither team was able to land the deciding blow after Jason Park’s first-half opener cancelled out by Benjamin Litfin early in the second half.

The result marks the second time the sides have drawn this season and significantly hinders Gold Coast City’s hopes of pushing for this year’s Premiership title with the club now seven points behind league leaders FNQ Heat with three matches remaining.

For Brisbane City, the result leaves them on the fringes of the top four behind cross-town rivals Olympic FC despite extending their record of never being defeated on the Gold Coast in PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues.

Key Moments

13’ – CHANCE FOR GOLD COAST – Rhys Saunders gets in behind the City backline to get one-on-one with Brisbane goalkeeper Timothy Allen, however he blasts the finish high from ten yards

20’ – GOAL FOR BRISBANE – Samuel Sibatuara crosses from the right wing and finds Jason Park at the back post, who slots the finish past diving Gold Coast goalkeeper Shane Viitakangas

21’ – CHANCE FOR BRISBANE – Carter Glockner breaks through one-on-one with Viitakangas and touches past but it’s too heavy and the Gold Coast defence shut down the opportunity

27’ – CHANCE FOR BRISBANE – Nathan Bird lines up the target from 15 yards out but his effort is directed straight into the waiting hands of Viitakangas

40’ – CHANCE FOR GOLD COAST – Saunders again uses his pace to fashion space for a shot but his left-footed strike is wide of the target

55’ – GOAL FOR GOLD COAST – Jason Campbell’s well-weighted pass plays in Benjamin Litfin, who keeps a level head to slot the finish past Allen

57’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Another chance for Saunders is again released in to space behind the City lines for another one-one-one chance with Allen but again fails to find the target

63’ – CHANCE FOR GOLD COAST – Daniel Dragicevic is released down the left before cutting back inside but his shot from the edge of the box is skewed across the face

64’ – CHANCE FOR BRISBANE – Koh Satake pounces on a deflected clearance to force a parried save from Viitakangas, the ball is then ushered over the line by Sibatuara with the second chance, however is overturned after the referee spots a handball

81’ – CHANCE FOR BRISBANE – Daniel Dragicevic breaks through one-on-one and touches past Allen but is clipped by the Brisbane gloveman and is fortunate to escape with a yellow card

What They Said

“We started really scrappy but then we finally got it together. The pitch doesn’t help but in these conditions you just have to battle. In these conditions it’s more of a battle than football to be honest.“ – Martin Vazquez, Gold Coast City FC defender

“I was really happy with the way we played on a fairly poor surface. We played good football, so I can’t complain about that. The effort was great. We had enough chances to win that game.“ – John Kosmina, Brisbane City FC coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 19

Sunday, July 31
Duncan McKenna Field, Gold Coast

Gold Coast City FC – 1 (Jason PARK 20’)
Brisbane City FC – 1 (Benjamin LITFIN 55’)

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2agzba9

Match Officials – Matt GILLETT (referee), Max CRANE (assistant), Tomas CULLANE (assistant), James MAINEY (fourth)