Moggill Star On Huge Cup Evening
- Phil Davis
- Apr 28, 2016
- 3 min read
Southside Eagles joined some elite company in the next round of the Westfield FFA Cup with a thrilling extra time 2-1 victory over Acacia Ridge at Memorial Park on Wednesday evening.
Ethan McCoy scored the first goal three minutes before halftime and it could so easily have gone the other way because Acacia Ridge started strongly and looked destined to the find the net.
Eagles started to gain an advantage early in the second half and irony came into play once again when Sho Yoshimura equalised with a smart finish from one of the few genuine chances of the match.As if to emphasis the sense of occasion, the winner arrived five minutes into the first half of extra time from the unlikely boot of Joel Peach who had entered the game off the bench in the 79th minute. Taking possession on the left hand corner of the penalty area, and taking a shot when it looked more advantageous to centre, the game was won as the ball skidded across the face of goal and past the diving Roki Samardzija.
Any remaining doubts over Ridge’s ability to compete in Capital League 1 was dispelled as they played a great game against their higher ranked opponents and with luck on their side could have won. Tight one-touch passing is something of a trademark for the All-Stars and at times they were unstoppable but were unable to find the net.
In fact, the one thing that probably let them down when they needed it was their superb finishing. Jaimes and Ilic score almost at will but that innate ability deserted them.But it was defence that won it for the Eagles. Sam Porch and Jacob Mengotti were fantastic in the centre of the backline, regularly cutting off dangerous balls and shutting down threatening attacks. Ridge like to play long from their keeper and barely won an aerial contest which softened their second ball threat.
At Goodwin Park, Moggill FC made a bold statement on behalf of Capital League football in Brisbane with an emphatic and richly deserved 4-1 victory over former PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues Premiers Olympic FC.
Prior to kick off, the Geckos were at huge odds to get a result but a 37th minute strike from Kisuke Uga and goals either side of the break to Sam Chesterfield gave them a dream 3-0 lead. Sam Cronin pulled one back for Olympic but in the 86th minute Nick Whitehouse put the exclamation mark on an historic occasion with Moggill’s fourth.
Pine Rivers were also expected to struggle but put in a fine performance against current second placed PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues side Redlands United at Wendy Allison Park, eventually going down 2-1. It looked situation normal when the Devils went out to a 2-0 lead but Sam West brought the Predators back into the game with a 63rd minute goal. It wasn’t to be enough but they bow out with their heads held high.
In the final game of the evening, it was “men against boys” as Lions FC handed out a 4-1 hiding to Western Pride which could easily have been a wider margin.
Tynan Diaz continued his excellent run with a goal in only the second minute and Michael Butters scored a hat trick as the reigning Flight Centre Premier League champions took advantage of a handy draw against the fledgling NPL club.
Click Here for a full match report from the Lions vs Pride game.
Massive interest and huge crowds are expected next week for the remaining Flight Centre Premier League vs NPL clashes when Eastern Suburbs play Brisbane Strikers at Heath Park and red-hot Capalaba travel to Wolter Park to take on Moreton Bay United.
Also not to be missed is the Rochedale Rovers vs Ipswich Knights clash at Underwood Park on Saturday evening at 5pm.
