Olympic Into GF After Nine Goal Thriller
Words: Chris Doherty-Fisher
Image: Sam Wood/FNQ FC Heat
Olympic FC are set for a second successive Grand Final appearance after downing FNQ FC Heat 5-4 in a see-sawing Semi Final at Barlow Park on Saturday night.
Olympic captain Danny Byrne struck the winning goal in time added on, adding to braces to teammates Rueben Way and Jake McLean.
Heat midfielder Alex Smith netted a hat-trick for the hosts, while captain Tamas Maffey-Stumpe also got on the score sheet in the nine-goal thriller.
Both Way and Maffey-Stumpe hit the woodwork in the first four minutes, Way’s shot from distance rattled the woodwork, while Maffey-Stumpe’s header hit the frame and went over.
Way opened the scoring on five minutes, chasing down a through-ball and slotting it past Heat goalkeeper Daniel Valcicak.
The hosts were level on 12 minutes when Smith capitalised on a free-kick, putting the ball into the top corner beyond the reach of Olympic shot-stopper Shannon Lancini.
Olympic restored their lead in the 19th minute, turning in an attempted clearance from a corner kick from close range.
A second Smith equaliser on 26 minutes saw the hosts back in the contest. Jamie Gosling made a surging run into the box and cut back to a lurking Smith who duly finished the chance.
Olympic striker Tim Smits spurned the chance to return his team to the lead, missing the target with a headed effort following a cross from Byrne.
Heat’s Crios O’Hare missed a one on one chance from the following counter attack, shooting straight at the goalkeeper after being set-up by a run from Josh De Nittis.
A timely tackle from Maffey-Stumpe shut down an Olympic break in the final minute of the half after Byrne surged through from a McLean through-ball.
Jamie Carroll threatened immediately after the restart for Heat, charging down the left before seeing his shot blocked by Olympic defender Matt Mundy.
Lancini denied Josh Jennison’s header shortly after as Heat continued to fight valiantly in front of their home crowd.
Smith put the hosts in front on 54 minutes, striking his 21st goal of the season by curling a shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner of the goal.
Olympic midfielder Terry Hughes almost fired straight back after being put through by Byrne but his chipped effort went over the crossbar.
Way again restored parity after the hour when McLean played a ball to Smits who in turn played in Way who steered home with a composed finish.
Maffey-Stumpe saw a header saved by Lancini before again restoring Heat’s lead with a header from a Smith corner kick.
The lead was short-lived though as Jake McLean grabbed his second just two minutes later by heading home a free kick from out wide.
A tense finish ensued as Valcicak saved consecutive shots from distance before denying Way with a sharp save from point-blank range.
With the match looking set for extra time, Olympic dramatically secured the win two minutes into time added on through their captain Byrne.
Despite Jennison’s initial clearance from a free kick, the ball fell for Byrne who volleyed home from the edge of the area to seal a second straight Grand Final appearance for the defending Champions.
Olympic will meet Premiers Palm Beach Sharks in the NPL Queensland Grand Final next weekend.
FNQ FC Heat 4 (Alexander SMITH 12’ 26’ 54’, Tamas MAFFEY-STUMPE 74’)
Olympic FC 5 (Rueben WAY 5’ 65’, Jake McLEAN 19’ 76’, Daniel BYRNE 92’)
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