Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Sam Attwood & Jay Stewart
Images: Sam Attwood

Sunshine Coast FC have delivered their biggest win of the year after routing third-tier club United Park Eagles 7-1 in their Westfield FFA Cup tie at Kawana Sports Precinct.

Eagles ultimately found few answers to a rampant Fire performance that saw Kobe Fuller lead the scoring with a hat-trick, while Shoichi Koshimizu netted a brace and Grant De Chastel and Giacomo Mellini chimed in with a goal apiece.

The Wide Bay Premier Men’s club’s only consolation came via a first-half goal to Brock Young.

The win extends Fire’s best ever return in the national knock-out competition and sees the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues club just one win away from a maiden appearance in the national Round of 32.

Fire will now meet Gold Coast-based Surfers Paradise Apollo in Westfield FFA Cup Preliminary Round 7.

Key Moments

8’ – CHANCE FOR FIRE – a breakaway from the hosts sees Shoichi Koshimizu cut back to Kobe Fuller but he scoops his shot over the top from 10 yards

21’ – CHANCE FOR FIRE – Fuller gets a sight on goal from 25 yards out but Eagles goalkeeper Jack Brookes palms the ball onto the post and out for a corner

27’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – Fuller’s cut-back finds Grant de Chastel at the top of the box and the Fire skipper makes no mistake with a strong finish

33’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – Fire pounce on the counter attack with Fuller striking home from just outside the penalty area

34’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – Fuller is in again after pouncing on an error from Eagles goalkeeper Brookes

37’ – GOAL FOR EAGLES – The visitors pull a goal back as Brock Young heads home from close range from Hayden Lobegeier’s corner

41’ – CHANCE FOR FIRE – Fuller threatens again as his shot is blocked by the legs of Brookes. Koshimizu looks to pounce on the rebound but sees his shot saved before heading over with another follow-up

45’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – Brady Cronk crosses from the deep to pick out Koshimizu who tucks home the finish at close range

55’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – Jeremy Stewart crosses in low to Koshimizu, who converts into the corner of the goal from six yards out to round out his brace

65’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – the ball pinballs around inside the penalty area before Fuller hammers home on the volley to wrap up his hat-trick

74’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – Matthew Lyell’s free-kick picks out substitute Giacomo Mellino, who guides home the header to close out the result

What They Said

“It could’ve been double figures but that’s not the point. The point is winning and getting into the next round. We are now (effectively) in a grand final and one game away from being on national TV in the national 32. When I came to this club the first week in March there is no way in hell the club would be where it is now. We have come a long way since then.“ – Sam Saif, Sunshine Coast FC coach

Match Details

Westfield FFA Cup 2016 – Preliminary Round 6

Sunday, May 8
Kawana Sports Precinct, Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast FC – 7 (Grant DE CHASTEL 27’, Kobe FULLER 33’ 34’ 65’, Schoichi KOSHIMIZU 45’ 55’, Giacomo MELLINO 74’)
United Park Eagles FC – 1 (Brock YOUNG 37’)

CLICK HERE for the official Match Centre

Match Officials - Rachel MITCHINSON (referee), Danielle POTTICARY (assistant), David WIEBE (assistant)