Olympic snatch dramatic win from Thunder

Seven minutes proves costly as South West Queensland Thunder lose to NPL leaders Olympic FC.

OPENING GOAL: South West Queensland Thunder striker Travis Cooper (obscured) scores against Olympic FC at Toowoomba's Clive Berghofer Stadium. Picture: Nev Madsen

FOOTBALL: A heart-breaking seven minute period shattered the SWQ Thunder's hopes of a historic NPLQ win on Saturday night.

Up 2-0 against joint competition leaders Olympic FC, the Thunder were closing in on victory, having dominated large portions of the game.

The first crack appeared in the 83rd minute - a Costa Psaros goal.

Alex Smith levelled the scores a minute later before scoring Olympic's winner in the 91st minute.

"It's a really disappointing result," SWQ Thunder assistant manager Kris Hemmerling said.

"Probably one of the hardest ones we've had this season. The boys really took it to heart."

The match was played at a frenetic pace with both teams creating plenty of chances - the best of which fell to the Thunder.

Thunder vs Olympic

VIEW GALLERY

Striker Chris Hatfield found himself on the end of some great play in the first 15 minutes with three good opportunities.

It was his fellow striker Travis Cooper who opened the scoring though - after a Hatfield cross.

With Olympic failing to clear Hatfield's cross, Cooper bundled home the lose ball in the 28th minute.

The Thunder doubled their advantage through a well-struck Nicholas Edwards volley in the 33rd minute - going into the halftime break up 2-0.

"It was an open and exciting game to watch," Hemmerling said.

"I thought we dominated a lot of game it was just that seven minutes that cost us.

"We take a lot of positives away from the game though.

"Olympic are a very good side, they have former A-League players in their squad, and we pushed them for the nearly the whole game.

"In the end they just had a little bit more experience and that was probably the telling factor."

Originally published as Olympic snatch dramatic win from Thunder