Words: Sam Flanagan & Michael Flynn
Images: Patrick Kearney

Gold Coast City have moved one step closer to sealing a top four finish after seeing off Olympic FC 3-1 at Goodwin Park.

Two first-half penalties to Benjamin Litfin set the platform for the visitors before Rhys Saunders sealed the result early in the second half.

Earlier, Sam Cronin levelled scores for the hosts midway through the first half with a trademark stunning free-kick, however, despite several changes, Olympic were unable to peg back City a second time.

The win sees City become the first side to post a league double over Olympic this year and puts them four points clear of the challengers in fourth place.

Olympic’s first defeat in five outings sees them conclude the round in sixth position and in danger of missing the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals Series for the first time.

Key Moments

9’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Brad Scott is deemed to bring down a Gold Coast City attacker in the area before Benjamin Litfin calmly steps up to bury the penalty into the left corner

11’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Rhys Saunders slices through the Olympic defence down the left before cutting inside, but skews his shot into the side netting

23’ – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – Sam Cronin is fouled by Litfin thirty yards out from goal and the midfielder bends a trademark strike from the dead ball into the top right-hand corner of the goal

32’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Olympic goalkeeper Nicholas Mooney is deemed to have fouled Saunders in pursuit of a fifty-fifty ball, enabling Litfin to convert the spot kick to restore his side’s advantage

36’ – CHANCE FOR OLYMPIC – City goalkeeper Shane Viitakangas blocks Ramone Close’s shot but the deflection falls invitingly for Daniel Byrne at the back post, who strikes wide of the goal

44’ – CHANCE FOR OLYMPIC - Scott Bow brushes off some close attention before crunching a pile driver from 20 yards that forces Viitakangas to tip it over the bar

48’ – GOAL FOR CITY - Olympic are unable to clear the danger in their own area before the ball finds it way to Rhys Saunders who converts from 10 yards

78’ – CHANCE FOR OLYMPIC – A corner puts City under pressure however the defenders hold firm to block efforts on the line from Kazuya Ito and Matthew Heath

What They Said

“Olympic have been the form team in the comp the last ten games so we knew coming here that they’d be up for it. We really needed to match them and we were superb in patches. That third goal was going to be do-or-die, so I’m glad we scored next and not them.” – Grae Piddick, Gold Coast City FC coach

“The decisions made the game at the end of the day really. But we had our chances to put the ball away and we didn’t. We were good and they were good. I’m still pleased with the effort of the boys.” – Terry Kirkham, Olympic FC coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 20

Sunday, August 7
Goodwin Park, Brisbane

Olympic FC - 1 (Sam CRONIN 23’)
Gold Coast City FC - 3 (Benjamin LITFIN p.9’ p.32’, Rhys SAUNDERS 48’)

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2amwylL