Gold Coast Knights win NPL QLD title in their first season in the competition

Reduced to just 10 men for most of the match, the Gold Coast Knights have weathered the storm to claim the NPL QLD championship in their first season in the competition.

Gold Coast Knights player Jarrod Kyle was sent off. Picture: East End Digital

Gold Coast Knights have been crowned NPL Queensland champions in their first season in the competition.

The Knights, who last year played in the Gold Coast Premier League, defeated Olympic FC 2-1 in Sunday night’s NPLQ grand final at Perry Park.

And that was despite being reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half-time following the dismissal of striker Jarrod Kyle.

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Having been booked earlier in the half, Kyle was given marching orders after receiving a second yellow card for a careless foul on Olympic skipper Steve Whyte.

But Olympic’s numerical advantage in the second half counted for nothing.

Having taken a ninth-minute leader through attack Nicholas Panetta, the Knights doubled their advantage in the 64th minute courtesy of a stunning free-kick from Oskar Dillon.

A late own goal from Knights defender Matt Smith gave Olympic faint hope, but the Knights held on in front of 3127 fans.

The defeat was Olympic’s second-straight grand final defeat, having been beaten 2-1 by Lions FC in last year’s decider.

But for the Knights, whose side included former Brisbane Roar A-League championship winners Smith and Mitch Nichols, it was the perfect ending to their maiden season in the state’s top competition.

Despite their grand final victory, the Knights won’t be Queensland representatives in the NPL national final series.

That honour falls to Lions FC courtesy of their first-place finish during the regular season.

Lions host South Australian outfit Campbelltown City in a NPL national quarter-final at Richlands next Sunday.

Originally published as Gold Coast Knights win NPL QLD title in their first season in the competition