Olympic FC have opened their NPL Queensland title defence with a confident 3-1 win over last year’s Grand Final opponents Brisbane City at Goodwin Park on Sunday evening.

Goals from Matt Byrne, Jake McLean and Daniel Crack ensured the visitors went without redemption for their heartbreaking penalty shootout loss in last season’s decider.

New faces Ryan Meskell, Darren Gray, Terry Hughes and Reuben Way all made their competitive debuts for Olympic, although the victory was soured somewhat by an injury to captain Danny Byrne.

It was one of the new quartet that produced the first genuine chance of the match on 15 minutes, as Way tested Matt Stein in the visitors’ goal. The City ‘keeper turning the attacker’s opening salvo around the post.

Stein was unable to repeat the effort just a minute later though, as Olympic fullback Matt Byrne opened the scoring.

The right-sided defender ventured forward with purpose and was found at the back post, where he displayed composure to chest a cross inside his marker and finish with enough power to beat Stein.

Despite the goal the match was yet to take on the free-flowing complexion of the thrilling 2013 Grand Final, although Tim Smits could have doubled the advantage on the half hour when his effort struck the upright.

The first change was made seven minutes later when skipper Byrne was forced from the pitch with an ankle knock, replaced by Luke Howell before the opening half closed at 1-0.

Five minutes of the second stanza ticked by without incident until Smits, the reigning NPL Queensland Most Valuable Player, sparked the half into life with a fearsome drive requiring Stein to tip over the bar.

Again it was a warning shot which led to greater gains for Olympic FC as in the 52nd minute McLean doubled the advantage.

The clever midfielder pounced to bury the ball from close range when Way’s stinging long-range effort was fumbled into his path by Stein.

The contest took on extra heat shortly after as a series of players went into referee Jason Crow’s book, while City attempted to change the dynamic by replacing front-man Daniel Sharov with Jarrod Kyle.

More subsitutions followed for the visitors, however the night once again proved it belonged to Olympic when Daniel Crack became the second fullback on the scoresheet ten minutes from time - his angled run between two defenders producing a slice of luck as the ball ricocheted off him and inside the near post.

City managed to ruin Meskell’s clean sheet in stoppage time when Kyle scored his first compettiive goal for his new club by poking home from inside the box.

 

Image: Olympic FC/Alannah Pearson