Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Simon Smale
Images: Anthony Napoli

A maiden PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues goal to Motoki Kakehi as secured Brisbane City their third straight win – seeing off Sunshine Coast FC 1-0 at Corporate Travel Management Stadium.

Left-sided attacker Kakehi threatened throughout the contest but delivered the decisive blow midway through the first half.

The side’s exchanged chances for the remainder but a combination of lacklustre finishing and sharp goalkeeping saw neither able to make a further dent on the scoreboard.

Fire’s night ended on a sour note when Kobe Fuller was sent off with five minutes remaining to put paid to hopes of salvaging a point late.

The result lifts City into third on the table - their highest position so far in 2016 - and also marks the side’s first clean sheet of the season.

It also extends Fire's winless return away from home this season to three games.

Key Moments

3’ – CHANCE FOR FIRE - Shoichi Koshimizu shoots wide to the left of the goal after promising early pressure from the visitors

14’ – CHANCE FOR CITY - Nicholas Buckley spurns a glorious opportunity after a pin-point cross from Jayke Cushieri

27’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Jason Park crosses the ball to Motoki Kakehi who fires a thunderbolt into the roof of the net

38’ – CHANCE FOR CITY - Scot Coulson crosses in from the right hand side and Antonio Murray slides in with the shot, just missing to the left of the post

43’ - CHANCE FOR FIRE - Fire with a two-on-one counter attack, however Jordan Lloyd doesn’t control the ball with Cameron Nairn also free in the box

48' - CHANCE FOR CITY - Ball fall fortuitously at the feet of Antonio Murray from a Jason Park cross but he sends his shot straight at Fire goalkeeper Samuel Nickolls

52’ - CHANCE FOR FIRE - Shoichi Koshimizu’s glancing header flies across the face of the goal

57’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – A drifting cross finds Jason Park but his strike is denied by the crossbar

75’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Nathan Bird shoots from outside of the area to force a full stretched save from Samuel Nickolls.

84’ – RED CARD FOR FIRE – Kobe Fuller receives his second booking after clashing with Greg King, who is also shown a yellow card and is forced from the field with injury

What They Said

“We didn’t struggle tonight. They were hard to play against because of the way they play – they were fairly direct, but we survived. We defended well when we needed to. (It was) another game where we made a lot of good opportunities but didn’t take them. “ – John Kosmina, Brisbane City FC coach

“We’ve got to be pleased. We’ve played a very good side and we’ve competed. Three or four weeks ago we probably would’ve lost by six (goals). So we’re going in the right direction and we’re competing.” – Sam Saif, Sunshine Coast FC coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 4
Saturday, 19 March
Corporate Travel Management Stadium, Brisbane

Brisbane City FC 1 defeat Sunshine Coast FC 0

Brisbane City FC

Goals – Motoki KAKEHI 27’
Yellow cards – Greg KING 85’
Red cards – none

Squad – 1. Timothy ALLEN, 2. Greg KING (16. Jean-Mike JABO 87’), 4. Kai SMITH, 5. Jayke CUSCHIERI, 7. Nathan BIRD, 9. Antonio MURRAY, 11. Nicholas BUCKLEY (19 .Mitchell HORE 65’), 12. Simon BIEL (10. Scot COULSON 83’), 13. Jason PARK, 18. Motoki KAKEHI
Unused – 14. Paul STEVENS, 20. Jake CLANCY

Sunshine Coast FC

Goals - none
Yellow cards – Kobe FULLER 83’, Giacomo MELLINO 90+1’
Red cards – Kobe FULLER 85’

Squad – 1. Samuel NICKOLLS, 2. Timothy HOLLINGWORTH, 4. Christopher JANCEVSKI, 6. Connor HANCOCK, 7. Cameron NAIRN (10. Kobe FULLER 67’), 8. Grant DE CHASTEL, 9. Brady CRONK, 15. Jordon LOY, 16. Matthew LYELL, 17. Paul BROWNLIE (3. Giacomo MELLINO 73’), 19. Schoichi KOSHIMIZU
Unused – 5. Kyle TOWNSEND, 12. Jordan LLOYD, 20. Josh WALL

Match officials – Nathan MCDONALD (referee), Isidiro TEROL (assistant), Oleg LABUZ (assistant), Justin TEMPLE (fourth)