Quick double seals win
TWO late goals from new signing Bircin Yorulmaz have helped Surfers Paradise to stay in the Gold Coast Premier League finals hunt.
Yorulmaz, who linked only last week with the Apollo from Merrimac, proved an astute signing in his first appearance.
He netted twice in the final 10 minutes for a 3-2 win over reigning premiers Broadbeach United at Lex Bell Oval on the Isle of Capri.
Reluctant to hand Yorulmaz and his brother Tolga positions in the starting lineup first-up, Surfers coach Dave Benigno injected Bircin after half-time and the move had telling effect after Broadbeach led 2-1.
“It would not have been fair to put them in straight away,” Benigno said of players he coached at Merrimac three seasons ago.
“But gee, we’ve knocked over Broadbeach and we couldn’t be happier.”
The loss knocked Broadbeach from top perch on the points ladder, enabling freescoring Magic United to take over that spot on goal difference.
Magic had a comfortable 3-1 win against Coomera at Viney Park and they have now scored 41 goals in 11 matches.
Mudgeeraba also put Murwillumbah’s top-four position under fire with a 3-1 win over the Warning.
In a drama-filled match at Tony Cecco Field yesterday, home side Merrimac was defeated 1-0 by Palm Beach.
The game was stopped for 20 minutes at the 62nd minute mark when Merrimac youngster Marcus Allison sustained a serious rib injury.
The 17-year-old was taken to Pindara hospital by ambulance.
PLAY was stopped for 20 minutes as officials waited for an ambulance to treat a 17-yearold who suffered broken ribs after a collision at a soccer match in Clear Island Waters yesterday.
Marcus Allison did not move for more than 15 minutes after being struck by a knee to the midsection while playing for Merrimac against Palm Beach in the Gold Coast Premier League.
Officials considered abandoning the match after the 62nd-minute collision but resumed play after Allison was removed from the field.
It’s the second serious injury the teenager has had in the last 12 months after breaking his ankle in October.
Marcus’s father Mark Allison is also sport director for the Merrimac Soccer Club and spent last night awaiting the results of X-rays at Pindara Hospital in Benowa.
The concerned father said coaching officials instructed Marcus not to move until paramedics arrived.
“If you’ve broken ribs you can puncture your lung by moving,” he said.
“He’s in a lot of pain. It was a knee (that did the damage).”
Palm Beach coach Joel Mulvenney said he felt for the injured Merrimac player but thought there was no foul play in the challenge
“These things happen every game, some people go down,” he said.
“There was no malice in it. It wasn’t even a free kick in my opinion.
“It was just unfortunate, he clashed with someone.
“I think the damage was done when he hit the ground to be honest.”
Palm Beach went on to win the game 1-0.