Words: Steve Pitman
Image: Brisbane Strikers

Jonti Richter spared Brisbane Strikers’ blushes on Sunday, curling home an injury time corner to lift his side to a 4-3 win over Western Pride at Perry Park.

A penalty from Pride’s Peter Drager cancelled out Matt Thurtell’s opening goal, before Strikers took a two goal lead into the break courtesy of Andy Thompson and Michael Angus.

Pride fought back to level terms in the second half via Chris Scott and Drager before Richter sensationally stole the points for the hosts, scoring directly from a corner kick in the final minutes.

Strikers marksman Thurtell got the hosts away to an ideal start in 15 minutes, running on to Jheison Macuace’s throughball then beating Pride goalkeeper Andres Pascoe with an angled left footed strike.

Drager equalized for his team from the penalty spot fifteen minutes later before Strikers winger Scot Coulson went on a rampage over the following five minutes, delivering the final pass from out wide for well-taken goals to Andy Thompson and Michael Angus to send the Strikers into the half time break 3-1 ahead.

Coulson spurned the chance to effectively seal the win shortly after the restart when he failed to turn in Thompson’s cross from close range.

On the hour Pride mounted their comeback through Scott, who cut in from the right wing to beat Strikers goalkeeper David Chambers from twenty yards.

The Ipswich club then drew level eleven minutes later via a thumping fifteen yard drive from Drager after the lanky striker ran on to a perfectly-placed cross from substitute Ryan McMaster.

Strikers were temporarily on the back foot but recovered to press in the last ten minutes.

A draw seemed the likely result before substitute winger Richter won a corner kick in the third minute of injury time.

His in-swinging delivery eluded Pascoe and a cluster of defenders and attackers to nestle in the far top corner of the goal and secure the three points for the hosts.

Strikers are next in action on Saturday afternoon when they take on cross-town rivals Olympic FC in the final of the Canale Travel Cup at Carmichael Park at Wynnum.

Brisbane Strikers 4 (Matt THURTELL 15’, Andy THOMPSON 32’, Michael ANGUS 34’, Jonti RICHTER 90+3’)
Western Pride 3 (Peter DRAGER 29’pen 72’, Chris SCOTT 61’)