Words: Mitch Datson, Northern Fury
Image: Nick Milton, Sunshine Coast Fire

Sunshine Coast Fire held on despite a late scare to record a 3-2 win over Northern Fury at Townsville Sports Reserve on Sunday afternoon.

Futa Nakamura early struck brace for the visitors in the overcast conditions before fellow Japanese import Chiharu Kosuge added a third just after the hour.

Fire held on despite late goals to Braedyn Crowley and Joseph Thornton offering Fury a chance of snaring an improbable point from the contest.

The visitors jumped out of the blocks early in a scintillating opening 20 minutes that saw chances at both ends.

Nakamura netted his first on 11 minutes when his left footed shot curled in the bottom right corner of the Fury goal.

He doubled his tally four minutes later with a powerfully timed header into the same corner courtesy of a cross from Reyze Kelly at the byline.

Nakamura spurned a chance to bag a hat-trick only a minute later when Fury goalkeeper Dylan Hudson mistimed an attack on the ball, but Nakamura pushed his effort narrowly wide of the open goal.

Hudson continued to live dangerously as Hobson, who returned to his usual defensive position, was left to clear a contested ball off the goal-line as the net was once again left open. 

Gusmeroli and Fraser both missed chances to drag the Fury back into the contest as the hosts stuttered in attack.

Fury’s chances were dealt a further blow when Hobson suffered a knee injury prior to the half.

Fire seemed to have sealed the win on 65 minutes courtesy of Kosuge before Fury rallied.

Fury’s top goalscorer, Braedyn Crowley, came more into the contest as the hosts became more composed in possession and the striker was rewarded on 81 minutes with a driven goal.

Fire played for the final whistle but were given a late scare when Thornton reduced the margin to a single goal in the first minute of injury time.

However, Fire held on to record their first win since March and consign Fury to their third straight defeat at home.

Northern Fury 2 (Braedyn CROWLEY 81’, Joseph THORNTON 90+1’)
Sunshine Coast Fire 3 (Futa Nakamura 11’ 15’, Chiharu KOSUGE 65’)