United break winless streak
NORTH Queensland United jumped clear of the Queensland National Premier League relegation zone with a convincing 4- 1 win over cellar dwellers Sunshine Coast FC.
Yesterday’s win not only gifted United three points but broke the club’s disappointing seven- game losing streak.
It took seasoned veteran Theo Nicopoulos just two minutes to steal the lead from the home side.
Nicopoulos’s quick goal was a clear cut change for NQU, which had been slow to start and left chances begging.
United’s scoreline was doubled shortly after, when NQU was awarded a penalty in the 15th minute, which skipper Corey Waples safely netted.
But Nicopoulos said United’s 2- 0 lead in the second half was put under pressure after the Sunshine Coast’s Shoichi Koshimizu bagged a goal back in the 55th minute.
“They pulled one back and we had a pretty frantic 20- 25 minutes or so minutes,” the NQU midfielder said.
“We weathered a storm a bit.”
A late brace by Matthew Richards in the 75th and 90th minutes firmed up the result for United and eased some of the season’s strain.
“We actually moved up to 10th, three points ahead of relegation,” Nicopoulos said.
United will now turn their attention to this weekend’s away game against Magpies Crusaders FC – which replaced United on the bottom of the ladder.
Nicopoulos said yesterday’s display in Kawana showed United had finally found their groove five weeks after rolling out their 5- 3- 2 line- up.
“We had a bit of a fourweek plan with our new formation … we’re starting to gel now,” he said.
“We’re just about groove.”
The timing could not have come at a better time for United, who sat just one spot above the Sunshine Coast and were last week knocked out of the FFA Cup by Cairns FC.
NQU have a game in hand but Nicopoulos said United needed to continue their form against Magpies Crusaders in Mackay.
“If we can get three points against them, it will be good,” he said.
United beat Magpies Crusaders 2- 1 in the second round of the season at Brolga Park. in that