Football Matters with Cyclops

Local

Despite the wet weather the 3rd Round of the Kappa Cup was played last Saturday night in Townsville. However, it was not a good night for the Burdekin who went down 1-7 to Brothers.

Seniors

In the Kappa Cup the game started off poorly with Brothers scoring in the first five minutes from a set piece. Five minutes later they were in again with a similar goal. Due to going two goals down early, the Panthers started to rush and make mistakes. This compounded when Brothers scored a third goal. By half time it was 4-0, with the Premier league keeper being substituted due to injury and Zack Durrant making his Premier league debut in goal. The Panthers set about creating a plan for the second half and executed it quite well.

With an increased intensity it saw Burdekin  create more chances but also left gaps in behind as they chased goals. Brothers capitalised on this scoring another three goals, which could have been more if not for some outstanding saves from Zack Durrant. Jay Leckenby managed to score for the Panthers  after some good build up play from the team. The final result was a 7-1 win to Brothers with the loss being magnified after an injury to captain Joshua Valle which looks to keep him out for an extended period of time.

Only one week now before the season kicks off. Fixtures start on the weekend of 20 - 22 March. The Division 1 and Division 2 Funkies teams play Estates at home on the Friday, and the Ladies are away to MA Olympic. On the Sunday, the Premiers and Reserves are away to Rebels. The Premiers first home game of the season is against Estates on Saturday 28 March. Senior Registrations are open and players should register now. Men’s training is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 .15 and the Ladies are in action on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6.00.

Junior

A pre-season Training Clinic for both Boys and Girls aged 6-9 years has started. Tuesdays at 5.15 at International Park. A terrific way to get back into soccer before the season begins. Teams will be hopefully getting sorted out in the next few weeks. Pre-season games will Kick Off on Saturday 21^st March.  

Masters

The Masters had to be cancelled again last Monday as the pitches were too wet. The season should now start next Monday Night. The  Magic (or Mayhem) should now kick off on 16th March. All are welcome, male, and female, useful and hopeless, halt and lame. Be there, International Park for 6.30 Kick off.

National and International

The Matildas played their second match in the  AFC Women’s Asian Cup and defeated Iran 4-0 on Thursday. The Matilda’s then played South Korea on Sunday and in the last minute managed an equaliser to draw 3-3. The Matildas finished runners up, on goal difference and qualify for the Quarter Finals where they will play either China or North Korea.

The Socceroos are warming up for the 2026 World Cup with three friendlies the first of them in two weeks’ time. They play Cameroon on Friday 27^th March and Curacao on 31 March in Australia and have now arranged a friendly against Mexico on 31 May at the Rosebowl in Pasadena. The Socceroos will know their first opponents in Group D by 1^st April after the Play Offs between  Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo. The play offs start on 27 March and finish four days later.

In the  A League, after twenty rounds  Newcastle are still the League leaders, and were the only one of the top five teams to win. They beat Western Sydney 2-1 and are now four points clear of Auckland with just six games left. Sydney drew  with Melbourne Victory and is a further three  points behind and  Adelaide stays in fourth spot. Brisbane is still in eighth place. Wellington and Western Sydney now hold up the league but only four points separates the bottom five clubs.

With the Asian Pacific Cup being played, there were no A League Women Fixture this week.

Europe

In England it is FA Cup time and after the 5th Round Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea,  Liverpool, Leeds, Southampton, and Port Vale  are all through to the Quarter final. In the EPL Arsenal is now seven points clear of Manchester City who have a game in hand. ManU has moved up to third place a further nine points behind, and Aston Vill has dropped to fourth place on goal difference. With nine rounds left Wolves and Burnley look Championship bound but West Ham and Notts Forest are fighting hard and Spurs, who have lost their last five games  could be Championship bound.

In Germany’s Bundesliga, with nine rounds left, the top three teams won, and Bayern stays eleven points clear of Dortmund. Hoffenheim is a further six points behind and Stuttgart who could only draw is another two points adrift. At the bottom of the league Heidenheim are definitely in trouble, but St Pauli and Werder Bremen both won and might escape relegation.

In Italy’s Serie A, five of the top six teams won and Inter is still ten points clear of AC Milan. Napoli stays in third place one point behind AC and Roma stays in fourth spot another five points adrift, despite only managing a draw. Juventus stays in sixth place. The bottom six teams all lost, and it looks all up with Pisa and Verona.

In Spain’s La Liga with eleven Rounds left only three of the top teams won. Barcelona  leads Real Madrid by four points and Atletico move up to third place a further nine points away. Villarreal lost but holds on to fourth place. At the bottom of the league, only one of the last six teams won and it looks like Goodnight Oviedo.

In France’s Ligue 1,  PSG lost and is now just four points ahead of Lens. Marseille won but is still seven points adrift in third place, one point clear of Lyon. Paris FC was the  only one of the bottom seven teams to win, and Metz, Auxerre and Nantes are in severe trouble.

The Soccer Quote of the Week

is from ex-Chelsea Manager (amongst others) Jose Mourinho "Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one."

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