Perth RedStar saw their Australia Cup ambitions for 2024 snuffed out at a wet and wild Percy Doyle Reserve last night as Queensland NPL side Lions FC ran out deserved 4-1 winners.
Attempting to become only the second Football West team to reach the last 16, Callum Salmon’s team made a confident start in horrible conditions and were rewarded on the half-hour when Matty George capitalised on a fumble from Lions keeper Cardiff Pond and squeezed the ball in at the near post.
However, two quickfire goals late in the half gave the Brisbane team the initiative they never looked like relinquishing.
Their equaliser came on 41 minutes, when RedStar midfielder Sonny O'Shea went to ground, allowing Shaun Carlos to skip past him down the left. The Lions winger cut inside and curled an effort which brought a diving save by Liam Reddy, only for the ball to fall to Andy Pengelly to tap in.
Then right on half-time, after Reddy had been forced into another diving stop, Lions defender Jacob Minett got in front of his marker and glanced home a corner.
There was no reprieve from the rain after the break and there was no let-up from the Lions, either.
They extended their lead on 57 minutes with an overhead kick from substitute Luke Broderick, before wrapping up the win in style 20 minutes from the end. Joel Chianese was caught in possession, and the ball found its way to Alex Fiechtner who curled the ball around Blair Govan, beyond Reddy and in off the post.
WA’s Australia Cup attention now turns to Perth Glory’s all-A-League tie with Melbourne City at the Sam Kerr Football Centre this Saturday, followed by next Tuesday’s clash at Kingsway Reserve when Olympic Kingsway take on Northern NSW NPL's Edgeworth Eagles.
Ticket details
Saturday 3 August
Perth Glory v Melbourne City (5.30pm WST)
Tickets https://bit.ly/3LPg7hg
Tuesday 6 August
Olympic Kingsway v Edgeworth Eagles (6.30pm WST)
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3Sm53f6