Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Chris Simpson

Brisbane Strikers are just two wins away from becoming national champions after seeing off a spirited Canberra Olympic 3-2 at Perry Park on Saturday night.

Strikers did it the hard way in their first-ever PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series Elimination Final – fighting back from a goal down at half-time after failing to convert a host of chances throughout the contest.

However, the hosts’ domination brought reward in the second half as Olympic twice turned the ball into their own net to succumb to a relentless Strikers side.

Earlier, Luke Marsh delivered Strikers the best possible start with the opening goal just six minutes in, before a brace to Jordan Tsekenis wrested Olympic the advantage midway through the first half.

The result sees Strikers become the third Queensland club in three seasons to advance to the Semi-Final stage of the competition where they will face the winner of the Elimination Final between Sydney United 58 and Adelaide City.

No Queensland side has previously advanced beyond the Semi-Final stage of the competition.

For Olympic, the defeat marks the fourth straight year a Capital Football side has fallen at the first hurdle in the end-of-season showpiece series.

Key Moments

5’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Jake Marshall at the far post nods a free-kick back towards Luke Marsh inside ten yards but the attempted volley is scuffed and the ball is collected

6’ – GOAL FOR STRIKERS – Sam Knight’s cutback picks out Fraser Hills, his shot is parried by Olympic goalkeeper Jack Pettit but it falls invitingly for Marsh, who tucks in the opener

11’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Greig Henslee at the back post heads across the face of goal from a corner kick

13’ – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – Jordan Tsekenis is released against the run of play and converts with an assured finish underneath Strikers goalkeeper Michael Weier

26’ – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – Tsekenis again shows a clean set of heels to a ball over the top and touches the finish past Weier to put his side ahead for the first time

27’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – immediate chance to return fire but Marsh can’t convert from point blank range

43’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Constant pressure from the hosts but the release comes for Olympic as Trent Clulow blasts high and wide from the top of the penalty area

46’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – The hosts look to pull level from the kick-off as a dangerous cross from Clulow is an inch too far from Marsh and is pushed away by Pettit

53’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Sharp passing from Strikers offers Clulow a gilt-edged chance to convert from 12 yards but he pushes the finish wide of the far post

64’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Clulow with a sight from distance this time but his shot lacks sting and bobbles into the waiting arms of Pettit

67’ – GOAL FOR STRIKERS – Fraser Hills bursts into space and his low cross is seemingly covered but Nicholas Bobolas gets his intervention all wrong and steers it into his own net

81’ – GOAL FOR STRIKERS – Clulow wins possession on the edge of the penalty and sends in a squaring ball which is pushed in for an own goal by Jeremey Habtemarium

83’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Sam Knight picks out Hills on six yards square in front of goal but the youngster pushes his finish wide under pressure

87’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Shaun Carlos has space and time inside the penalty area but he misses the chance to seal the win by pushing his strike across the face of goal

90+2’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Hiroki Omori with another chance to seal it for the Queenslanders but scoops his shot high of the target

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 Finals Series – Elimination Final

Saturday, September 17
Perry Park, Brisbane

Brisbane Strikers FC – 3 (Luke MARSH 5’, own goal 67’, own goal 81’)
Canberra Olympic FC – 2 (Jordan TSEKENIS 13’ 26’)

Match Officials – Alex King (referee), Renae Coghill (assistant), Isidro Terol Crespo (assistant), Rachel Mitchenson (fourth)