Seemingly destined to be also-rans to the juggernaut that is Lions Football Club, Gold Coast United and Eastern Suburbs have scrapped and scrounged their way to within sight of the Sunshine State’s ultimate prize in women’s football. Having cast their doubters aside, these two clubs will face off to lift the NPL Queensland Women’s trophy on the hallowed turf of Lang Park, becoming the first new club to do so since Brisbane Roar / FQ NTC in 2018.
A tale of two strikers, this match will be highlighted by two of the most lethal attacking duos in NPLW Queensland this season: Bronti Rose and Momo Haysahi for Gold Coast United, and Sofie Persson and Maya Brueckner for Eastern Suburbs. With both pairings having combined for 26 goals this season – though only Brueckner and Hayashi have scored against this week’s opponent in the league this year – it will be no surprise that they’ll be key targets for both their teammates and opposing defenders.
Just as important for Easts’ chances will be defensive pairing Chantelle Maugeri and Harkana Tkatchenko. Mainstays at the back this season, Maugeri and Tkatchenko have clocked a whopping 26 games without being substituted season, contributing four goals each while Tkatchenko conceded just the two bookings this campaign.
By contrast, Gold Coast’s greatest consistency is found in its midfield; in Astia Neckebroek and Charlotte Farmer, GCU have a combination forged across an entire season together, with Neckebroek’s six goals and 10 assists driving the team forward while Farmer works to protect her colleagues in defence.
While Gold Coast head into this match with a minute advantage, having beaten Easts at home back in March, truth is that neither team holds the upper hand in this contest. Both are undefeated in their past five matches; both have beaten more-fancied opponents in the run-up to this match; both have surpassed expectations to find themselves on the Olympic City’s biggest stage.
From here though? The result is anyone’s to guess, though this more than most is a contest screaming out for a hero to claim it for her side.
NPL Women’s Queensland Grand Final
Gold Coast United vs Eastern Suburbs
Lang Park, Milton
Sunday 17 September, kick-off 4:30pm
📺 Coverage available via FQ Facebook
