Brisbane Strikers moved into the top half of the table with a stirring 3-2 come-from-behind win over defending NPL Queensland champions Olympic FC at Perry Park on Sunday.

Tim Smits opened the scoring for the visitors early in the contest, however goals to Jonti Richter, Michael Angus and Jheison Macauce gave Strikers their first win over their cross town rivals in the competition’s short history.

Following three wins over Strikers last season, Olympic looked set to repeat history when Smits converted  from a Danny Byrne cross barely eleven minutes into the match – Strikers goalkeeper David Chambers saving the initial header before Smits pounced on the rebound.

Olympic controlled much of the first half, however were caught napping on 45 minutes when Strikers fullback Scot Coulson picked out a run from Richter.

Richter’s pace took him past Matt Mundy, before he rounded Olympic goalkeeper Ryan Meskell and slotted home to level terms at the break.

Only two minutes after the restart, Coulson was again the provider as he continued his impressive start to the season by crossing for Angus, who turned his effort in from close range.

An under hit pass back to Meskell from Darren Gray led to the host’s third of the afternoon – Macauce nipping in ahead of the Olympic shot-stopper to finish into an empty net just after the hour.

Olympic attempted to rally, but were unable to breakdown a buoyant Strikers outfit until ten minutes remaining when Reuben Way produced a stirling solo effort to give the visitor’s a lifeline.

However Strikers finished the stronger team and had shots from Angus and Macuace rattle the crossbar to underline the result.

Richter said after the game he believed this year’s Strikers squad have more resilience than last year’s.

“We have a good group this year”, Richter said.  “I think last year, a few times, when we went behind we just capitulated and went from bad to worse.”

“But this year we’ve got a lot of boys who have a bit more trust in each other and that will to win,” he concluded.

The win lifts Strikers into sixth place on the table on six points. While Olympic’s first loss of the campaign sees them sit in fifth place on seven points.

Brisbane Strikers 3 (Jonti RICHTER 45’, Michael ANGUS 47’, Jheison MACAUCE 62’)
Olympic FC 2 (Tim SMITS 13’, Reuben WAY 80’)