Words: Matt Dorman
Image: Paul Smith

SWQ Thunder edged closer to the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over a spirited Willowburn at Clive Berghofer Stadium.

Chris Veivers set a possible upset in motion with a surprise opener for the community club inside five minutes, before Thunder responded through two Majok Piok goals to lead at the break.

The Preliminary Round 5 tie seemed destined for extra-time when Veivers completed his own brace with 15 minutes remaining but Mustafa Jafari's late intervention sealed the hosts’ progression.

Thunder are now two matches shy of a maiden Final Rounds appearance and next meet the winner of Gold Coast City and Surfers Paradise Apollo.

The result ends Willowburn's furthest progression in the Westfield FFA Cup.

Key Moments

5’ – GOAL FOR WILLOWBURN – Chris Veivers pounces on a wayward back-pass and makes no mistake in front of an open goal.

8’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – A shot from outside the area falls fortuitously for Majok Piok to apply the finish from near the penalty spot.

19’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Mustafa Jafari carries the ball down the left wing and tries an audacious shot which forces a diving save from Brenton Gietzel.

43’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Jafari turns inside two defenders from the left and lays the ball to his right for the oncoming Majok Piok to bury his second.

54’ – CHANCE TO THUNDER – Piok latches on to Jafari’s cross from the left but his effort is kept out by the right post.

78’ – GOAL FOR WILLOWBURN – Veivers classily lifts his free-kick over a four-man Thunder wall and past Luke Borean into the top left corner.

86’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Willowburn’s Gietzel is penalised for a regathering a ball he had released, enabling Jafari to score the winner from an indirect free-kick inside the penalty area.

What They Said

“We missed lots of opportunities. I’m happy we won but we could have scored more. We want to play against Gold Coast (in the next round). I’m not feeling good about (the weekend’s 7-1 defeat to Gold Coast) but we are trying our best to get that result back.” – Mustafa Jafari, SWQ Thunder forward.

Match Details

Westfield FFA Cup – Preliminary Round 5

Wednesday, 20 April
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba

SWQ Thunder FC 3 defeat Willowburn FC 2

Thunder Goals – Majok PIOK 8’ 43’, Mustafa JAFARI 86’
Thunder Yellow Cards – none
Thunder Red Cards – none

Thunder Squad – 1. Luke BOREAN, 3. Keagan SHERIDAN, 4. Ben BARROWCLIFT, 4. Xavier PRATT (7. Tom FANNING 64’), 6. Jackson HAUSSLER, 8. Lachlan ATKINSON, 10. Mustafa JAFARI, 11. Majok PIOK (9. William CROZIER 73’), 13. Silde CANDA, 15. Kevin DOYLE (16. Nykodah SMITH 64’), 18. Jacob BIGBY
Thunder Unused – 19. Jackson FRANKE, 20. Anthony PASSANTE

Willowburn Goals – Chris VEIVERS 5’ 78’
Willowburn Yellow Cards – Chris VEIVERS 61’, Brock TUESLEY 65’, Brenton GIETZEL 85’
Willowburn Red Cards – none

Willowburn Squad – 1. Brenton GIETZEL, 2. Rhett GREENSLADE (6. Brock TUESLEY 23’), 4. Kaleb MOON-BURGESS, 5. Damien SAUNDERS, 7. Brodie WELCH, 8. Chris VEIVERS, 9. Harry SORIC, 12. Adam BENNION, 13. Tim WARK (10. Mads WOLTER 66’), 14. Trent DONOVAN, 16. David EBERHARD (3. Kise LEE 79’) Willowburn Unused – 11. Matt MIEKLEJOHN, 17. Damien STEGER

Match Officials - Kehan RYLEY (referee), Stephen POTTICARY (assistant), Alex HOHN (assistant)