Jets Down Olympic To Progress To Round Of 32

Photo: ©Patrick Leigh Kearney @patrickleighperspectives

Olympic FC 2 (Cronin 56', Byrne 61’ pen)

Moreton Bay Utd 3 (Campbell 19 , 69 , Millar 81 , Smith 90+5 )

HT 0-1 Played at: Goodwin Park

Moreton Bay United created history when they became the first side from the Brisbane Zone in 2017 to set their sails for the national stage with a spectacular against the odds 4-2 win over Olympic FC in their Rd7 Westfield FFA Cup tie at Goodwin Park on Friday night. Riley Campbell scored a neat goal against the run of play shortly after the quarter hour mark to open the scoring, when he latched onto Alex Janovsky's pin point ball over the top, rounding one defender before sliding his shot beyond Olympic keeper Tom Carroll into the bottom corner.

It proved to be enough to give the visitors the lead going into the break but Olympic responded well early in the second term.

Sam Cronin replied just before the hour driving in an indirect free kick on the second attempt from near the penalty spot after Jacob Mitchell was adjudged to have sat on the, ball preventing it from being played. His initial attempt blocked but the kick was taken again as United had encroached. Four minutes later Danny Byrne dusted himself off to score from the spot leaving Olympic with only thirty minutes to negotiate for passage to the Round of 32. But Moreton Bay had other ideas with Campbell leveling the contest on 69 minutes after the hosts had failed to clear Matt Capelo's free kick into the box. The ball falling nicely for Campbell to finish off at close range.

Janovsky had the opportunity to put Jets ahead just moments later from the spot, after Olympic's Tyler Wagstaffe had been adjudged to have brought down Declan Smith from behind. Carroll however guessed the right way and parried Janovsky's spot kick away to keep the scores level.

With the game looking as though it would head to extra time, an unmarked Cameron Millar slotted home from 12 yards out when picking up Campbell's neat through ball on the edge of the box. Carroll getting part of his body to the ball but unable to prevent it from trickling in at the far post with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.

Olympic went in search for an equaliser, with Carroll making a couple of forays up field and on one occasion involved in open play as he failed to retain possession, finfing himself stranded as United strode forward. Fortunately for him his defence regained possession, allowing him to jog back to his goal.

Moreton Bay Coach Adam Piddick came on for Campbell near the end to bolster his defence, having made the recent switch from playing for Albany Creek.

With Olympic pressing to take the game into extra time, Matt Bryne's lofty clearance for the visitors bounced favourably with Shane Stefanutto misjudging it and Declan Smith pouncing to sprint on to goal and putting the outcome beyond doubt deep in added time, with a low angled shot beyond Carroll inside the near post.

Olympic coach Terry Kirkham will be hugely disappointed after his side's recent good form in the league saw them enter this contest as favourites, but credit must go to Moreton Bay who have reached the Round of 32 for the first time in their history; doing it the hard with with away ties in all three of their preliminary rounds, albeit one being away to sister club Albany Creek at their shared home of Wolter Park. The prospect of playing the likes of South Melbourne or Adelaide City at Wolter Park is just desserts for a team which has become a powerhouse of the Brisbane football scene despite humble beginnings and with some dogged outcomes so far, you wouldn't out it past them to progress further.

FB Media Stats:

Possession: 53% - 47%

Shots on target: 9 - 9

Shots off target: 8 - 0

Shots blocked: 3 - 2

Corners: 3 - 0

Free Kicks: 20 - 14

Penalties: 1 - 1

Offside: 1 - 2

Yellow Cards: 3 - 4

Red Cards: 0 - 0 Team Line-ups

Olympic FC: Carroll (gk), Jones, Stefanutto, Bow, Cronin, Ito, Close, Byrne, Cuminao, Wagstaffe. Psaros.