Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Alannah Pearson/Olympic FC

Olympic FC closed out their regular season with their biggest ever NPL Queensland win, defeating an understrength Palm Beach Sharks 9-1 at Mallawa Complex on Wednesday night.

Seven different goal scorers etched their names to the scoresheet for the visitors, with a further two own goals delivering the eight goal margin.

Needing a win to secure a third place finish, Olympic dominated from the outset against a Sharks side comprising mostly Under 18’s players.

Captain Danny Byrne and striker Tim Smits threatened in the opening ten minutes before Jake McLean opened the scoring on 12 minutes – lobbing Sharks goalkeeper Jack Littlejohn after controlling well from Byrne’s lobbed ball into the box.

Byrne doubled the advantage five minutes later, finishing a swift counter attack off the post after being picked out by Terry Hughes.

The shots continued to rain down on the Sharks goal as Matt Mundy and Hughes both shot wide of the target.

Olympic effectively sealed the result with a third goal prior to the half hour when Reuben Way and Smits combined cleverly to tear through Sharks in the centre of the park – Way getting in behind the line to deliver a composed finish.

Four minutes later Hughes lobbed Littlejohn as Sharks continued to struggle against their stronger and more experienced opposition.

The hosts threatened shortly after on the counter-attack, however Olympic defender Nick Efstathis was alert to shut down a breakaway from Ethan Grimley.

Olympic continued to threaten as Mundy saw a close range effort saved by Littlejohn and Smits spurned a pair of chances – striking the crossbar with a lobbed attempt before blazing over the top with the follow-up strike.

The striker atoned for the misses prior to the break with a well-taken strike to give the visitors a five goal advantage at half time.

The second half saw a more composed Sharks defensive performance, however the youngsters still couldn’t stem the torrent of goals.

Substitute Rhys Meredith drilled home a 30 yard free-kick on 51 minutes, the low drive taking a deflection in the crowded penalty area to be recorded as an own goal.

McLean and Mundy combined well on two occasions prior to the hour mark, however McLean’s curling attempt went just over the bar while Littlejohn was quick off his line to shut down Mundy through on goal.

Substitute striker Mustafa Jafari made an immediate impact after his introduction, turning in a parried save from Littlejohn following Meredith’s stinging shot on the angle.

Sharks finally called upon Olympic goalkeeper Brandon Cuminao, as Ethan Grimley teed up striker Zamin Tselery only for the young shot-stopper to deliver a sharp, full-stretched save before Grimley blazed over the bar from the ensuing corner.

Meredith added his name to the litany of goalscorers after running onto a lobbed pass and delivering a composed finish – his strike partner Jafari showing guile to check his run after starting in an offside position.

Newie Cobbo tested Cuminao from distance before Sharks eventually made the breakthrough through Tselery, who tapped home after Grimley did well to outmuscle Efstathis in the box and tee-up his teammate.

The score could have blown out further as Meredith and Jafari continued to pepper the Sharks goal.

Olympic rounded out the win with an own goal consigning Sharks to the club’s largest defeat in NPL Queensland history – eclipsing last season’s 7-1 loss to Redlands United.

The win sees Olympic finish the season in third place and books last year’s Grand Final winners a semi-final date this Saturday in Cairns against FNQ FC Heat.

Sharks will look to make amends with their first team squad this Saturday in their semi-final against Brisbane Strikers.

Palm Beach Sharks 1 (Zamin TSELERY 72’)
Olympic FC 9 (Jake MCLEAN 12’, Danny BYRNE 15’, Reuben WAY 25’, Terry HUGHES 32’, Tim SMITS 42’, own goal 52’ 90’, Mustafa JAFARI 63’)