Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Steve Pitman
Images: Michele Pitman

Brisbane City’s dream of a return to the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals is over after drawing 1-1 with Brisbane Strikers at Perry Park.

Strikers’ Trent Clulow opened the scoring midway through the second half with a stunning solo goal, before City leveled terms just minutes later from the penalty spot via Samuel Sibatuara.

However, City were unable to fashion a winner against an understrength Strikers outfit, ending their push for a return to the finals for the first time since 2013.

The result marks the second time City have drawn Strikers this season but leaves John Kosmina’s side two points adrift of current fourth-placed holders Redlands United.

Olympic FC are the only side that can prevent Redlands from achieving a second straight Finals appearance but must win their match on Sunday by a margin of at least five goals.

Strikers will host the eventual fourth-placed finishing club next weekend in the Semi Finals.

Key Moments

14' - CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Shaun Carlos strikes a left-footed piledriver from outside the penalty area that skims just wide of the post

16’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Samuel Sibatuara heads towards goal but Strikers defender Jake Marshall is on hand to nod the ball off the goal line

35’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Scot Coulson’s cross picks out Nathan Bird inside the six-yard box but Bird can’t put the resulting effort on target

38’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Jonti Richter swivels on a cross from Samuel Johnson but sends his shot across the face of the City goal

65’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Luke Marsh turns inside the penalty area to fashion space but his strike from point blank range is palmed away by City goalkeeper Timothy Allen

66’ – GOAL FOR STRIKERS – Trent Clulow wriggles his way through a massed City defence and then slots his finish past Allen from eight yards out

71’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Carlos is played in on goal by Clulow but his close range strike is foiled by a smothering save from Allen

77’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Sam Knight brings down City’s Kai Smith to see the visitors awarded a penalty and Sibatuara makes no mistake with the resulting spot kick

87’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Substitute Simon Biel sends his shot into the side netting from close range with only Strikers goalkeeper Sebastian Usai to beat

What They Said

“The boys came together when we didn’t really have a full (regular) starting squad, which was good. City came out and gave it their all, which is what they had to do, and I think we battled quite well to keep them to a draw. I probably should have scored to get us a win but a 1-1 draw was not bad” - Luke Marsh, Brisbane Strikers FC forward

“We don’t score enough goals. We created enough opportunities but it just comes with experience, I think. We needed a bit more in the right areas. We got into good areas and sometimes our decision making let us down. But that’s the story of our season. We’ve gone seven undefeated and five of those have been draws” - John Kosmina, Brisbane City FC coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 22

Saturday, August 20
Perry Park, Brisbane

Brisbane Strikers FC – 1 (Trent CLULOW 68’)
Brisbane City FC – 1 (Samuel SIBATUARA p.77’)

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2bkgiA9

Match Officials - Matt Skinner (referee), James Sherry (assistant), Oleg Labuz (assistant), Isidro Terol  Crespo (fourth)