SA champion Campbelltown City falls to Queensland’s Lions FC in Australian NPL elimination final
SA champion Campbelltown City’s reign as the nations’s best second-tier soccer club is over, after the Red Devils relinquished their crown with a frustrating loss away to Brisbane’s Lions FC.
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Campbelltown City’s reign as the nation’s best second-tier soccer club is over after the SA champion fell to a frustrating loss away to Brisbane’s Lions FC to relinquish its crown.
The Red Devils went down 2-1 to the Queensland premier in its Australian NPL elimination final at Lions Stadium on Sunday, despite staging a spirited fightback from a two-goal deficit.
Alex Mullen revived the visitors’ hopes with a header 14 minutes from time following strikes by Lions’ Mitchell Hore and Joe Duckworth midway through the second half.
But Campbelltown was left to rue twice hitting the woodwork and having a strong penalty claim denied, 12 months on from beating the same opponent to secure its first national title.
The defeat also signalled the end of Joe Mullen’s glorious seven-year, seven-trophy stint as Red Devils coach.
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Mullen said a pair of defensive lapses and his side’s inability to capitalise on its spells of dominance proved fatal in humid conditions.
“It’s frustrating because I know we were capable of going on a lot further in this competition,” said Mullen, a week after the club’s second-straight SA grand final victory.
“We had a fantastic first half … but we switched off mentally (for the conceded goals) and the heat was then starting to take its toll.
“But I’m always very proud of the way my players go about things, on and off the pitch.
“The club is now on the map nationally and they are seen as one of the best NPL teams in the country.
“I’m really satisfied and I leave the club in a good place.”
The Red Devils created the better chances of a goalless first half.
Slick link-up play on the left between Lui Ditroia and Jake Halliday in the sixth minute ended with a deflected Joel Allwright finish which bounced twice on the crossbar and behind.
Dion Kirk limped off for Campbelltown with an ankle injury on the quarter hour to be replaced by Anthony Ture, the two-goal hero in last year’s NPL decider.
The Red Devils again came close to breaking the deadlock as Marc Marino hit the bar from the substitute’s delivery.
Alex Mullen and Marino also forced Lions goalkeeper Luke Borean into action before the break with menacing long range strikes.
Keegan Jelacic, Hore and Josh Brindell-South had efforts desperately cleared by the
Campbelltown defence as the former NSL outfit started the second half brightly.
The home side’s pressure eventually paid off in the 64th minute.
Duckworth found space in the box to tee up Hore and the forward was given time to control before slotting coolly past Nick Harpas from 12m.
Lions doubled their advantage five minutes later when Hore returned the favour with a defence-splitting pass for Duckworth to convert.
The Red Devils refused to throw in the towel as Ditroia cut inside from the right and delivered a pinpoint cross for Alex Mullen to nod home at the back post.
A spot kick shout for a Tommy Jarrard push on Adam Piscioneri in stoppage time was waved away to ensure the Croweaters came up short.
“For me if that’s in the first five or 10 minutes of the game, the referee gives a penalty,” former Socceroo Mullen said.
“I’m not complaining because these things even out, but anywhere else on the park it’s a free kick.
“But they’re a terrific group of young men and I could not be more in awe of what they do as part-time footballers.
“It’s just a gap year for me.
“If I miss it, I’ll certainly be back because I love the game too much.”