Elusive scores ire Heat
CONVERTING on-field dominance to points on the NPL ladder continues to prove difficult for the FNQ Heat and could derail their premiership hopes.
Brisbane City broke away with two late goals to beat the Heat 3-1 in a fiery Round 9 clash on Saturday night, which included multiple scuffles between players.
Much of the visitors’ frustration stemmed from an inability to find the back of the net, only scoring through a goalkeeper error in the second half.
Chris Sullivan’s fortunate goal in the 83rd minute came after City took a 1-0 lead into halftime thanks to Kai Smith, but afterwards it was “one-way traffic” for the Heat according to coach Tim Campbell.
“For the next 10 minutes it was all us, we had created some good chances and with a couple of minutes to go Ari hit the crossbar and it bounced down and away and then they went up the other end on the breakaway and scored,” he said.
The next goal was another breakaway and it even caught the linesman napping, missing a blatant offside, but Campbell said either way the Heat were destined to leave Spencer Park with nothing. “It was a disappointing result but the performance was good,” he said.
“We were the better team for big periods of the game but we just haven’t got that finishing quality.
“We took a lot out of it. They were very well organised. We did well to break them down.
“We’re just not putting our chances away like we were last year and it’s costing us.”
The result drops the Heat down to sixth on the NPL ladder, just in front of the Northern Fury, who they will face this weekend in the FFA Cup.
The Townsville-based club won their fifth round tie against local side MA Olympic on Saturday night to progress.
The match between the Heat and Fury will take place in Cairns, with the clubs in the process of finalising a day and time.
The winner of the Heat v Fury match will play the winner of Capricorn Coast v Mackay Magpies to battle for a place in the Round of 32.