Words: Steve Pitman, Brisbane Strikers
Image: Stock

Brisbane Strikers consolidated their position in the NPL Queensland top four with a fiery 2-1 win over Harimau Muda ‘A’ at Perry Park on Wednesday night.

Nurridzuan Abu Hassan gave the visitors an early lead before Strikers fought back through Matt Thurtell and Jheison Macauce either side of the break.

Harimau Muda’s Gary Steven Robbat was red carded for violent conduct aaginst in the first half, before two members of the Harimau Muda coaching staff were banished from the technical area for dissent in the final stages.

The visitors started the match promisingly when they went ahead on eight minutes, Abu Hassan bludgeoning his 25 yard free-kick around Strikers’ defensive wall and past the diving Michael Turnbull on debut in goal.

Strikers struggled to break down Harimau Muda’s defence for much of the first half, while centre halves Dan Patridge and Cameron Draper kept busy by the pace and attacking aggression of Mohd Isa and Adam Nor Azlin in the Harimau Muda front third.

The hosts inched their way back into the contest and levelled terms after the half hour when Macauce picked out Thurtell – the striker’s crisply-struck finish flying past Harimau Muda goalkeeper Muhd Farhan Abu Bakar from fifteen yards.

Shortly after, a physical game came to the boil when Robbat was yellow-carded for delaying the restart of play. Robbat reacted to the caution by confronting and felling King, which saw referee David Weibe issue a straight red card.

The hosts reshuffled their line-up after the break to take advantage of their extra numbers.

King threatened from wide areas without be able to pick out his forwards and genuine scoring chances remained at a premium.

Thurtell drew a regulation save from Abu Bakar before Keenan Duimpies shot wide for the hosts. At the other end, Harimau Muda were denied by the cross bar from a looping header from a corner kick.

Thurtell spurned a chance to put the hosts ahead when played in by a early ball from fullback Scot Coulson – Strikers’ leading goal scorer rounding the goalkeeper but delaying his shot just enough to allow the Harima Muda defence to scramble and clear off the line.

Ultimately, Macauce made the breakthrough for the hosts on 71 minutes, robbing Mohd Isa of possession near the centre circle, then holding off a defender before rolling his shot past Abu Bakar on the burst.

The Malaysians tried to raise their game in response and tested the Strikers defence in the final ten minutes, however the game ended in controversy as the vocal Harimau Muda bench exhausted the patience of Weibe – the referee sending two members of the technical staff to the stands for dissent.

The result lifts Strikers into second place in the standings, and will take the weekend off ahead of Tuesday's Westfield FFA Cup fixture against Broadmeadow Magic in Newcastle.

Harimau Muda remain in ninth ahead of this Saturday’s match against league-leaders Palm Beach Sharks on the Gold Coast.

Brisbane Strikers 2 (Matt THURTELL 39', Jheison MACUACE 71’)
Harimau Muda “A” 1 (Nurridzuan ABU HASSAN 8’)