GCC Extend Unbeaten Start
Words: Aaron Cooper
Additional reporting: Thibault Berthier
Gold Coast City have maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 victory over SWQ Thunder at Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre.
The two sides shared solid opportunities in the opening half hour before attacker Sam Smith handed the hosts the lead with a well-struck finish on 29 minutes.
Mustafa Jafari conjured the Thunder’s two best chances in the first half with two long-range efforts, but both strikes were unable to beat Ryan Meskell.
The hosts had the better of the second half opportunities with midfielder Riley Dillon and substitute Jacob Boutoubia coming close to doubling the advantage.
It was Dillon who eventually opened up some breathing space for Gold Coast, tapping home a follow-up to a parried shot from Jarrod Kyle.
City have now won three of their opening four fixtures while the Thunder are still in search of their maiden victory of the season.
Key Moments
15’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – A stinging Mustafa Jafari effort from 20 yards forces Meskell into a diving save
19’ – CHANCE FOR GCC - A goalmouth scramble falls to Riley Dillon who is unable to place his shot on target.
21’ – CHANCE FOR GCC – Sam Smith cuts in from the left hand side and sends his effort inches wide of the far post.
29’ – GOAL FOR GCC – Sam Smith brings down Justyn McKay’s lofted pass on his chest before expertly slamming it into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
40’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Jafari turns and shoots from 30 yards, his shot fizzes past the upright
53’ – CHANCE FOR GCC – Jaiden Walker makes a driving run into the area and squares to Riley Dillon on the penalty spot, whose effort fizzes past the post
85’ – CHANCE FOR GCC – Boutoubia fires a shot from 30m out that flies just wide of the target
87’ – GOAL FOR GCC – Dillon taps home City’s second after Passante could only parry Kyle’s intial effort.
Match Details
PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland – Round 4
Saturday, 18 March
Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre
Gold Coast City FC 2 (Sam SMITH 29’, Riley DILLON 87’)
SWQ Thunder FC 0
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