Creek Frustrated As Lions Snatch Win
Albany Creek Exceslior 1 (Waters 57') Lions FC 2 (Takahashi 17'; Gaffney 82') HT 0-1 Played at: Wolter Park Referee: Jim Bellos
Peter Gaffney's header eight minutes from time handed Lions top spot on the Flight Centre Premier League ladder as they scrapped for a 2-1 success away to Albany Creek on Saturday evening.
On the balance of play, the visitors deserved the 3 points but they were made to work hard for it and can be thankful for the Assistant Referee's flag that twice denied Creek in the first half when they had the ball in the back of the net.
Shoheel Khan made his first start for Lions this season against Albany Creek.
Lions' new signing Tynan Diaz was on the subs bench but Josh Ahern was ruled out for this game with an ankle issue just before the warm-up. Shoheel Khan made a start for the first time this season after his pre-season return to the club from PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues side Redlands United.
The hosts themselves were still without the services of Thomas Laxton and injured captain Cameron Millar who's only managed two league games this season. Creek did however debut new signing, goal keeper Behzad Ariayee Ravesh; a former Iranian professional who has recently come to Australia as a refugee.
Creek should have taken an early lead when Christian Sorbello latched onto Riley Camobell's through ball and poked the his effort past Phil Zabaks and just inches wide of the upright.
From that point, Lions took control with Khan showing some of the blistering pace that menaced defences last season, and shortly after the quarter hour mark, they took the lead. Kenya Takahashi dispensing a superb free kick from 25 yards out that had Ariayee Ravesh stranded as the ball struck the back of the net.
The main talking points of the game though came midway through the half as the home side were denied twice in two minutes by the offside flag.
The first came when Zabaks did well to block Sasa Radulovic's fierce strike from the inside the box. Zabaks spilled the ball goal wards before gathering hands on it near the goal line, simultaneously as Campbell got his foot to it and prodded the ball into the goal only for it to be ruled out for him being in an offside position from Radulovic's initial shot.
Creek's Kristen Waters heads past Lions keeper Phil Zabaks but his effort is ruled out.
Soon after Creek had a free kick in Lions' third of the field. The ball was floated into the box and met by Kristen Waters who headed past on rushing keeper Zabaks, but he too was denied by the flag.
Zabaks produced a superb save moments later to tip Campbell's effort round his post as Creek pressed for the equaliser they felt they deserved.
Ariayee Ravesh was called into action close to half time to keep the deficit to one when he tipped over Nathan Reardon's header from a corner.
Eventually Creek would have the leveller just before the hour mark and this time Waters would not be denied by the assistant's flag as his powerful header from a corner bulged the back of the net from 10 yards out.
Both sides scrapped as the game became more physical. Referee Jim Bellos opting to keep his cards in his pocket, much to the ire of Creek coach Pouria Nabi who was perhaps fortunate to remain in his technical area with his vocal displeasure, which in turn prompted Lions coach Warren Moon to remonstrate with his counterpart.
Lions looked the more threatening as time went on but looked to have wasted their chance, especially when substitute André Bonotto fired well wide when well placed near the penalty spot after brilliant work from Nathan Shepherd picked him out with a cut back from the goal line.
But Creek switched off and allowed Lions to grab what would be the winner with less than ten minutes remaining. Peter Gaffney ghosting in unmarked at the far post to head in from Tynan Diaz's corner. Ariayee Ravesh clawed the ball away but it was clearly well over the line at the time.
The visitors held out for the remainder of the game with the win keeping them top of the Flight Centre Premier League table.
Lions coach Warren Moon was pleased with all three points in what he describes as a difficult place to visit. He still felt though that his side have more to give which could perhaps be an ominous sign as on the night, they were better than their opponents.
Pouria Nabi was left disappointed when he felt his side did enough to have earned a share of the spoils. The two ruled out goals the icing on the cake for the frustrated Creek coach.
Creek travel to Capalaba next round with both sides difficult to assess as each can produce the goods on the day. Lions welcome Logan FC to Lions Stadium next Sunday and with Logan's current form, you'd be hard pressed to see anything but another three points heading the way of the reigning premiers.
FB Media Player of the Match: #6 Kenya Takahashi - Lions FC. A sublime free kick to open the scoring was just reward for the technically brialliant Japanese utility. Under pressure he was calm and a number of times he read the play superbly to regain possession for Lions and counter attack.
Team line-ups:
Albany Creek: Ariayee Ravesh (gk), Buhmann, Campbell, Fujimoto, Mehnat-Gir, Morris, Radulovic, Saito, Sorbello, Vesey, Waters. Subs: Radovanovic (rgk), Arop, Maeda, Sciarretta, Lightbody. Lions FC: Zabaks (gk), Butters, Lewis, Gaffney, Schiavo, Shepherd, Jankovic, Spiandorello, Reardon, Takahashi, Khan. Subs: Murphy (rgk), Bonotto, Diaz, Mollee, Morgan.
FB Media Match Stats. Possession: 34% - 66% Shots on target: 3 - 2 Shots off target: 5 - 6 Free kicks: 12 - 17 Offside: 5 - 1 Corners: 3 - 12 Yellow Cards: 0 - 0
