Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Albert Perez/Football Queensland

The PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Under 23 All-Stars were out-gunned 8-0 by a rampant Brisbane Roar at QSAC on Saturday.

Roar were at the dazzling best against the All-Stars team, who despite their toil could find no reply to the Hyundai A-League side’s quick passing and high pressing defence.

Steven Lustica delivered a first-half hat-trick for the Roar with Jean Carlos Solorzano and Brandon Borello also scoring in the opening stanza.

The three time Hyundai A-League Champions struck three further times in the second half through Jerome Polenz, Dimitri Petratos and Jack Hingert rounded out the scoring

Only weeks away from their eleventh Hyundai A-League campaign, the Roar started brightly against the All-Stars.

Solorzano opened accounts only five minutes in when he snuck a close-range shot past onrushing All-Stars goalkeeper Nicholas Mooney before Lustica opened his account from the penalty spot shortly after.

Lustica added another from open play just prior to the quarter hour - benefitting from Matt McKay’s decoy run to slot a first-time finish.

Despite desperate All-Stars defending - including a block on the line from Northern Fury’s Ari Isman - Roar soon extended their haul to four when Borello delivered a composed finish on 21 minutes.

The All-Stars increasing settled into the pace of the contest and fashioned their first chance on the half-hour when Joe Thornton miscued his strike after being picked out on the burst by Harrison Sawyer.

However, they remained under pressure in their defensive third and conceded a fifth prior to the break when Lustica poked home from McKay’s cut-back to secure his hat-trick.

A sharp save from the under siege Mooney denied the Roar midfielder his fourth in the final minute of the half.

Palm Beach goalkeeper Shane Viitakangas replaced Mooney for the second-half and was immediately called into action - delivering a sharp double save to deny Dimitri Petratos and George Lambadarides.

In the attacking third, the All-Stars also began to click as Scot Coulson’s delivery increasing offered a threat from wide areas.

However, Roar broke through against just after the hour when Polenz managed to beat Viiitakangas with a firmly struck effort on the angle.

Thornton saw another chance to open the All-Stars account midway through the half but saw angled his shot held by Roar custodian Michael Theo.

Petratos added another for Roar as the match entered the final quarter hour, tapping home courtesy of a pin-point ball behind the line from PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland graduate Shannon Brady.

Substitute Jack Hingert then added the eighth for Roar with a cutting run on goal, poking his finish past the oncoming Viitakangas.

Roar pushed forward until the last, however were unable to add further to their haul - with substitute centre half Kai Smith making several determined interventions in the closing stages.

PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Under 23 All-Stars  0
Brisbane Roar FC  8 (Jean Carlos SOLORZANO 4’, Steve LUSTICA p.6’ 14’ 39’, Brandon BORELLO 21’, Jerome POLENZ 61’, Dimitri PETRATOS 77’, Jack HINGERT 80’)