Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Mark Guy & Steve Pitman
Images: Brian Monro

A frantic final ten minutes frustrated both Gold Coast City and Brisbane Strikers as they shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Duncan McKenna Field.

Both City and Strikers were dramatically denied by the woodwork in the final minutes as the sides saw their attempts to salvage a winner go without reward.

An inspired performance from City goalkeeper Shane Viitakangas proved telling at the final whistle, with the 2014 Safe Hands Award winner making several crucial saves in the second half.

Strikers opened accounts midway through the opening stanza as off-season recruit Rhys Meredith netted his second competitive goal for his new club.

However, Viitkangas’ efforts ultimately enabled Benjamin Litfin to steal a share of the points with his first goal of the campaign in the final ten minutes.

The result sees Strikers still searching for their maiden three points of the season, while it keeps City in touch with the top four in the early stages of the campaign.

Key Moments

20’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – An indirect free-kick is awarded inside the penalty following a high boot from the City defence, however the hosts have all hands on deck to block the strike from Rhys Meredith

23’ – GOAL FOR STRIKERS – Trent Clulow feeds the ball to Rhys Meredith whose telling first chance enables him to slot the finish past City goalkeeper Shane Viitakangas at the near post

32’ – CHANCE FOR CITY - Justyn McKay looks to level terms for the hosts but his shot fades wide of the target

65’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Shane Viitakangas quashes the danger with a double save to deny Shaun Carlos

67’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Trent Clulow fizzes a strike through the air but Shane Viitakangas is again up to task to tip the ball onto the crossbar and behind

82’ – GOAL FOR CITY – A cross from Jordan Lampard finds Benjamin Litfin, who feins to shake a defender before slotting his shot into the bottom corner

87’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Shaun Carlos heads at goal from point blank range but is somehow denied by a miracle reflex save from Shane Viitakangas

89’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Shaun Carlos again threatens but his driven shot is this time denied by the post

90’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Jordan Lampard delivers a solid strike from the edge of the area that hits the post and then bounces back across the face of goal

What They Said

“They were certainly much better than us in the first half. There were a few home truths at half-time and the effort from the boys to put them under a bit more pressure second half was evident. It made the game a bit scrappy but sometimes you got to do that. We deserved to score a goal in the second half, so from that point of view one-one was okay.“ – Grae Piddick, Gold Coast City FC

“We obviously wanted a reaction and I think we got it. I think for the spectator it would’ve been a pretty exciting game. (It was) high intensity with both teams going at it and it opened right up. It could’ve gone either way to be honest.“ – Michael Angus, Brisbane Strikers FC

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 3
Sunday, March 13
Duncan McKenna Field, Gold Coast

Gold Coast City FC 1 draw Brisbane Strikers FC 1

Gold Coast City FC

Goals – Benjamin LITFIN 83’
Yellow cards - none
Red cards – none

Squad – 1. Shane VIITAKANGAS, 2. Matthew JONES (21. Jordon LAMPARD 45’), 3. Tim JACKSON, 4. Drew JESKEY, 7. Justyn MCKAY, 8. Roman HOFMANN, 9. Jarrod KYLE (5. Riley DILLON 80’), 10. Benjamin LITFIN, 11. Nikola MIRKOVIC, 18. Daniel DRAGICEVIC (6. Jason CAMPBELL 80’), 19. Morgan SAUNDERS

Unused – 16. Rees DUNCAN, 20. Joshua LANGDON

Brisbane Strikers FC

Goals – Rhys MEREDITH 24’
Yellow cards – Shaun CARLOS 60’
Red cards – none

Squad – 1. Sebastian USAI, 2. Christopher MAHER, 4. Jake MARSHALL, 5. Greig HENSLEE, 6. Fraser HILLS (14. Jake MCLEAN 79’), 7. Shelford DAIS, 8. Michael ANGUS, 9. Rhys MEREDITH, 12. Shaun CARLOS, 13. Sam KNIGHT, 18. Trent CLULOW

Unused – 11. Alistair DAVIS, 15. Jesse WIEMERS, 20. Michael WEIER

Match officials – Andrew LINDSAY (referee), Tom CULLANE (assistant), Sam OSBORNE (assistant), Chris LONG (fourth)