There were 13 goals, eight red cards and no wins for any of last season’s finalists as the 2023 NPL Queensland Men’s season kicked off in spectacular fashion over the weekend.
Check out the game-by-game wrap of the weekend's action below.
Defending Champions Gold Coast Knights, who entered the new campaign as favourites to go back-to-back following an impressive off season that included the signings of Bradden Inman, Oskar Dillon and Aaron Reardon were stunned 3-0 by cross town rivals Gold Coast United on opening night.
Nicholas Panetta, Curtis Stollery and Justyn Mckay - three of the eight former Knights players in Grae Piddick’s side found the back of the net as United took all three points against a nine man Knights who had Tyson Martin and Harry Lane sent off.
Last seasons other finalists Olympic, didn’t fare much better, going down 2-1 to Moreton Bay after a pair of goals in second half stoppage time at Wolter Park on Saturday evening.
Linden Farr, who made the move from the Jets to Olympic in the off season opened the scoring on the stroke of half time before the home side fought back and netted twice at the death through Mitsuru Sakashita and Daniel Champness.
Sam Roper and Jordan Farina were both dismissed on their league debuts for the their new clubs as both sides finished Saturday’s match with ten men.
It was a tough start for new Olympic Head Coach, Royce Brownlie who also made the move from the Jets to Olympic in the off season.
Defending Premiers, Lions were held to a 1-1 draw against newly promoted Redlands United on Saturday night with the sides trading goals through Joe Duckworth and Max Ellenger.
Darren Simes side managed to find an equaliser ten minutes from full time after going down to ten men midway through the second half following Louis Fenton's dismissal.
The match doubled as the Football Foundation Cup which pits the reigning NPL Queensland and FQPL Premiers against one another with Lions winning the penalty shootout to take the trophy.
Eastern Suburbs kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 away win over the league’s other promoted side, Rochedale at Underwood Park.
Marek Madle missed a first half penalty for Rovers before Diego Cuba’s second half strike was enough to ensure Matt Chandler’s side would return to Heath Park with all three points.
A 94th minute Matt Thurtell penalty saw Brisbane City snatch all three points against a nine man Young Roar who had Riley Gill and Nathan Geyer sent off at AJ Kelly Park on Saturday night.
Thurtell's goal on his league debut for his new club saw City come away victorious in Karl Dodd's first NPL match at City manager.
In Saturday’s other match at AJ Kelly Park Sunshine Coast Wanderers came from behind to defeat Peninsula Power 2-1 thanks to goals from Oliver Duncan and Shaughn Lewis after a Darcy Madden goal had Power in front early on.
Power were reduced to 10 men in the 38th minute when Nuh Sehavdic was sent off on debut for an off the ball incident.
2023 NPL Queensland Men's Round One Results
Gold Coast Knights 0-3 Gold Coast United
Moreton Bay United 2-1 Olympic FC
Lions FC 1-1 Redlands United
Brisbane Roar Youth 0-1 Brisbane City
Rochedale Rovers 0-1 Eastern Suburbs
Peninsula Power 1-2 Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Image: Mons Photography / Gold Coast Knights