CITY WIN JOUST WITH THE KNIGHTS IN FFA CUP
NATIONAL Premier Leagues Queensland leaders Gold Coast City had to dig deep to advance to the next stage of their FFA Cup quest.
City were up against local Premier League club Gold Coast Knights in a zone qualifier at Duncan McKenna Field on Saturday night and lived to fight another day after a 1-0 win.
It took a 75th-minute goal from Jarrod Kyle, after a sizzling shot from Jacob Boutoubia was parried by Knights keeper Tim Warren, to secure the win. It gave City a Wednesday night appointment in chilly Toowoomba for another regional qualifier against South West Queensland.
But City had to do it tough, breaking a deadlock after the Knights lost Yuji Hirayama who was sent off after 25 minutes for a second yellow card.
After losing to Surfers Paradise in the corresponding fixture last year, City coach Grae Piddick fully expected the Knights to come out breathing fire.
“It was exactly what we expected in Cup football,” Piddick said. “They sort of gave it to us, particularly in the first 20 to 25 minutes.
“After that, you could see we were on top but when you don’t score goals it can always come back to haunt you, like it did last year (when City lost 1-0 to Surfers).
“In the second half we were very dominant and could have had a few more goals but their keeper make a few great saves.
“I’m just glad to get the goal and move on to the next one.”
The game was spiced by a number of fouls and Piddick said this contributed to a stop-start affair which he felt did not suit City’s style.
“But they (the Knights) are entitled to do that because it was going to help them out,” he said.
Now it is on to Toowoomba for an 8pm kick-off against the Thunder.
Away from some knee soreness to striker Sam Smith, the squad came through unscathed.
And they will have some fresh legs to call on for the Darling Downs exercise.
“You can expect Benji Lyvidikos and Curtis Stollery to come in because they’re both starting players,” Piddick said. “That’s the beauty of the squad – I am blessed with a lot of good players.”
Despite the disappointment of having a player sent off in such a vital clash, Knights coach Alex Morrison did not have any other complaints.
“I am proud of the boys for getting to this stage of the Cup,” said Morrison of a side that was last year playing in the second-tier of local soccer before winning promotion to Premier League.
Best for the Knights were Daniel Dragicevic and Teddy Watson.