Words: Emily Wilson & Jay Stewart, Sunshine Coast Fire
Image: Emily Wilson, Sunshine Coast Fire

Harimua Muda 'A' recorded their second straight win on Sunday afternoon, defeating Sunshine Coast Fire 2-0 at Stockland Park Western Fields.

The visitors failed to convert from the penalty spot with scores locked nil-all in the first half, before Muhammad Syazwan Andik Mohd Ishak and Ferris Danial Mat Nasir scored after the restart to secure the points for the Malaysians.

Kicking off in windy conditions, both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances in the opening half.

Shiochi Koshimizu created the first real offering of the match in the 11^th minute with an aerial ball across the box, forcing a save from Harimau Muda keeper Mohamad Firduas Muhamad.

Harimua Muda fired back soon afterwards but Fire keeper Sam Nickolls saved Mohamad Ghazli’s shot.

The Fire players sought to exploit the flanks but proved unable to connect to anything inside 18 yards.

A fumble from Muhamed produced some nervous moments before the visitors scrambled the ball clear, however the Harimau Muda goalkeeper made amends soon after to palm Paul Arnison’s free kick over the crossbar.

Mat Nasir’s shot slid wide of the target in the 17^th minute, before he was awarded a penalty in the 35^th minute only to see Abu Hassan blaze the ensuing spot kick over the crossbar.

Fire’s continued to probe the flanks in the second-half and were awarded a free-kick on 51 minutes following a good run from defender Brock Messenger.

The set-piece saw the ball rattle around the penalty area, but Fire proved unable to fashion a shot on target amidst the scramble.

Five minutes later Harimau Muda scored the opener after Nickolls was dispossessed inside his own penalty area - Andik Mohd Ishad opportunisitically poking the ball into the goal as referee Alex King waved away Fire’s appeals for an infringement.

Fire again appealed to the referee in the wake of the Malaysian's second goal six minutes later, claiming offside as Mat Nasir latched on to a throughball and blasted his shot off the underside of the crossbar.

Fire failed to capitalise on late chances to reduce the margin as Muhamad palmed away Arnison’s 75^th minute free-kick to the top-left and Messenger headed wide from the resulting corner.

In the final ten minutes, Nakamura saw his header bounce back off the post, before Wade Zammit nodded over the cross bar and Kelly skewed his shot wide of the target.

The loss sees Fire drop to tenth place on the table but last year’s semi-finalists remain in the playoff calculations only five points outside the top four.

For Harimau Muda the result marks a return to form and marks a second consecutive cleansheet following their midweek win over Northern Fury in Townsville.

Sunshine Coast Fire 0
Harimau Muda 'A' 2 (Muhammad Syazwan ANDIK MOHD ISAK 57’, Ferris Danial MAT NASIR 63’)