Thunder Fightback Falls Short
Words: Jason Hall
Image: Helen Kiepe / SWQ Thunder
Harimau Muda ‘A’ held off a three goal second half fight back from South West Queensland Thunder to win 4-3 at Clive Berghofer Stadium on Sunday.
Seven players got on the score sheet in the high scoring match - Ridzuan, Fandi, Narridzuan and Arif Fardhan scoring for the visitors, while Matt Carey, Rehoboam Ayii and Ryan Ensor netted second half goals for Thunder.
After an even first half hour Harimau Muda 'A' finally broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when Thunder turned the ball over in their own half and the visitors quickly moved it to attacking midfielder Ridzuan who clinically finished past Thunder goalkeeper Michael Pike.
Thunder threatened immediately, with Carey, Ensor and Anthony Grant combining down the left only for Grant’s one-on-one with the goalkeeper halted for an offside flag.
Harimau Muda 'A' doubled their lead in the 44th minute when some good short passing in the attacking third giving Fandi just enough time and space inside the box to shoot and score.
Deep into first half injury time right winger Narridzuan made it 3-0 for Harimau Muda 'A' when Thunder again gave the visitors too much time and space inside the box and were made to pay.
Thunder came out with more intensity in the second half and pulled a goal back just after the hour.
Sharp lead up play saw the ball find the feet of striker Carey who ran across the 18 yard box to make room for a left footed shot that beat the outstretched goalkeeper.
Harimau Muda 'A' restored their three goal advantage in the 75th minute when striker Arif Fardhan headed home from a well placed chipped pass.
Two late goals set-up an exciting finish though as Harimau Muda 'A' lost possession playing out from the back in the 83rd minute to present Thunder midfielder Ayii with a gift in front of goal.
Ryan Ensor scored the goal of the match with a spectacular free kick from 25m out finding the top left of the net in injury time to reduce the margin to a single goal.
The hosts pressed hard in the final minutes and had some half chances to snatch their first points of the season but the Malaysians held on for their first win since late June.
SWQ Thunder 3 (Matt CAREY 64', Rehoboam AYII 83', Ryan ENSOR 90+1')
Harimau Muda 'A' 4 (RIDZUAN 30', FANDI 44', NARRIDZUAN 45+1', ARIF FARDHAN 75')
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