Words: Simon Smale & Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting & Images: Sam Attwood

Two first-half goals proved enough for Sunshine Coast FC to hold off a fast-finishing Brisbane City 2-1 at Kawana Sports Western Precinct.

The home side were gifted the opener as Shochi Koshimizu latched onto an error from Timothy Allen inside the opening quarter hour before Jeremy Stewart doubled the advantage shortly before half-time.

City crafted a raft of opportunities as the mounted a fightback in the second half but their reward came too late with Samuel Sibatuara not pegging back Fire until the closing stages.

The result marks a second defeat inside a week for City, who drop out of the top four for the first time since Round 10.

For Fire, the win ends continues their hot-and-cold run in 2016 – putting paid to a two match winless run and lifting them to ninth in the standings.

Key Moments

12’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – City goalkeeper Timothy Allen spills a cross under pressure which falls invitingly for Shoichi Koshimuzi to smash home at close range

44’ – GOAL FOR FIRE – Koshimizu delivers a low ball from deep on the left flank to Jeremy Stewart, who drills the finish from ten yards

45’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Samuel Sibatuara turns inside of the Fire defence before launching a long range effort which is collected by Fire goalkeeper Samuel Nickolls at the second attempt

46’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Luke Pavlou chances his arm from 30 yards out and it fizzes narrowly wide of the target

70’ – CHANCE FOR FIRE – Mathew Biggins misplaced back pass falls for Brady Cronk, who bears down on goal but sees his shot saved by Allen

83’ – CHANCE FOR FIRE – Paul Brownlie takes possession outside the penalty area and looks to lob the ball over Allen but it fails to dip enough before going over the crossbar

85’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Jason Park cuts back from the byline for Sibatuara to tuck home the finish

What They Said

“It was a real solid performance against a top five side. Our defending was absolutely superb and our counter-attacking play was fantastic. I can’t really single everybody out. You know that in the second half the opposition is going to come back at us and that’s where our defensive stocks stood firm.“ – Melvyn Wilkes, Sunshine Coast FC technical director

“We gave two away in the first half and you can’t do that at any level of football and expect to come out and win it. It was another opportunity missed to be perfectly honest because we threw one away on Tuesday night. It’s going to be a battle now to make the finals.“ - John Kosmina, Brisbane City FC coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 15

Sunday, June 26
Kawana Sports Western Precinct Field 2, Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast FC – 2 (Shoichi KOSHIMIZU 12', Jeremy STEWART 44')
Brisbane City FC – 1 (Samuel SIBATUARA 84')

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/28ShSYG

Match Officials - Rachel MITCHENSON (referee), Zac KEENAN (assistant), Ben COOK (assistant), Jay HUDSON (fourth)