Seven months of blood, sweat and tears will culminate in the biggest game of the National Premier Leagues Queensland season as Olympic FC go head-to-head with the Gold Coast Knights in what's shaping up to be a blockbuster clash
Olympic FC return to the limelight for a second year running and will hope to put last year's disappointments behind them as they take on NPL-newcomers Gold Coast Knights at Perry Park.
With the Knights and Olympic finishing the season second and fourth respectively, the match-up looms as a tense affair in what will be a thrilling decider.
Olympic have been a consistent fixture in the finals since the NPL QLD's inauguration, first tasting success in the competition's maiden season in 2013 with a win over Brisbane City. While they've reached the Grand Final twice since, defeats at the hands of Palm Beach and most recently Lions in last year's edition means they're trying to put their finals hoodoo to bed.
Attempting to add silverware to their stellar debut NPL QLD season will be the Gold Coast Knights, who finished just four points adrift of the Premiership. Boasting an extensive trophy cabinet from their time in the Gold Coast Premier League, the Knights will be hoping to translate their lower league successes into their first topflight title.
With the top four breaking away from the rest of the pack around the midway point of the season, the road to Perry Park has been much the same for either club.
The Knights were the epitome of consistency this season, having not dropped out of the top four since Round 2, while going toe-to-toe with first Peninsula Power and then Lions as they vied for top spot.
Olympic had to contend with a slightly slower start to the season, marred by three defeats in the opening ten rounds, before consolidating their finals berth in Round 12.
With the nip and tuck nature of the semi-finals, either side was at their superlative best as they both laboured to 2-1 victories. Olympic achieved belated retribution as they saw off 1st-placed Lions at AJ Kelly Park, while the Knights eliminated fellow newcomers Peninsula Power in a measured clash on the coast.
With the Knights boasting the second-best defensive record in the competition and Olympic the second-best attack, they took to battle in two enthralling encounters over the season. The first fixture saw the sides play out a 3-3 draw at Goodwin Park, before the Knights put a youthful Olympic to the sword in a 4-2 win at the Croatian Sports Centre on the final day of the season.
On the park, both teams are laden with talent.
The Knights' rock-solid defence was supplemented by the addition of former championship-winning Brisbane Roar skipper Matt Smith, whose inclusion at the heart of defence saw them go seven games without conceding. Matthew Schmidt also looms as a key figure in the Knights' defence, the lively leftback having been a mainstay in the NPL QLD Team of the Week.
Equally impressive is their midfield, which boasts the likes of lynchpin Mitch Nichols and attack-minded Max Brown. The former Socceroo has been indomitable in the middle of the park, always looking to have an extra second on the ball as he orchestrates the tempo, while Brown picked up 13 goals from 29 games with his penchant for a stunner a constant threat.
Buoyed by the return of skipper Sam Smith, the Knights can draw on a total of seven players to fill out their front third. While top-scorer Jarrod Kyle is likely a mainstay, having found the back of the net 16 times, the Knights wealth in attack means the other spots are up for contention. Nicholas Panetta has hit his stride over the latter end of the season, while electric wingers Jayden Prasad and Shannon Brady can be counted on to wreak havoc whether from a starting berth or off the bench.
Olympic have a solid foundation in defence, led by veteran centreback Matt Mundy. Mundy, a championship-winner with the Brisbane Roar, has played in all three of Olympic's previous finals and will be a composed head at the back as he pairs alongside youngster Jack Glover.
Steve Whyte looks to be a stand out player in the centre of the park, his ability to move the ball and create openings a major factor in his side's chances. Augmented by crafty Japanese midfielder Kazuya Ito, the midfield battle promises to be a hard-fought one.
Olympic's strong suit lies in their attack, a force which scored 85 goals over the course of the season. Goal-scoring machine Chris Lucas looms as the danger-man, his partnership with Alex Smith producing 45 goals between them. You can't mention Olympic without talking about the golden-boy of Queensland football, Jez Lofthouse. The flamboyant 19-year old has had defenders running rings and will need to be at his star-studded best for Olympic come Sunday.
The stage is set for a blockbuster clash of the titans, with it all on the line there promises to be plenty of intensity and entertainment as these two teams battle it out in order to answer one question - who will be crowned champions of Queensland?
Match Details
Sunday 15 September
Perry Park
Olympic FC vs Gold Coast Knights
Kick Off 6pm
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