A stunning comeback that saw two goals in the final five minutes has delivered Redlands United their maiden PS4 NPL Queensland Champions title.
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Redlands defeated FNQ Heat 3-2 in the decider at Perry Park – the same venue where they stunned the nation in the Westfield FFA Cup just a month earlier against Adelaide United.
Michael Lee again proved the hero for the Red Devils with a stunning curled strike in the final minute of regular time to stun the Heat who led for most of the contest.
Heat took the lead in the early exchanges via Kieran Sanders before Redlands found a leveller midway through the opening stanza through Alistair Davis.
Heat reclaimed their advantage before the break when Sanders struck his second of the night five minutes before the half, however, the Cairns-based club were ultimately left to rue several missed chances in the second stanza.
It all fell apart in the final five minutes for Heat as an error from Heat goalkeeper KeIvin Ward gifted Jake Sherwood an unlikely equaliser before Lee’s last-minute strike on the counter attack sealed the title.
The win sees Redlands become the fourth Queensland Champion in four years in the national second tier competition and the first team to win the Grand Final without previously claiming the Premiers title.
The win is only the second trophy for Redlands in second-tier competition – following on from their 2012 Queensland State League Grand Final win.
Redlands United coach Matt Chandler believes conceding an early goal was the unlikely catalyst for his side’s win.
The Red Devils were on the backfoot early in the contest when they went behind inside five minutes. However, despite leading for most of the contest, Heat were unable to put the result to bed, allowing Redlands to snatch the title with two goals in the final minutes.
Chandler said the scenario played into the hands of his side’s now-renowned fighting qualities.
“I thought they scored too early,” Chandler said. “It was good for them but if we score early we tend not to play as well. I knew at half-time it would help us. There was a goal between us and I knew we would have two or three opportunities. We have players that only need two or three opportunities to score goals and tonight Michael Lee proved that.”
The result marks the third comeback for Redlands at Perry Park in just over a month – including their semi-final penalty shoot-out win over Brisbane Strikers and their unprecedented 'cupset' against defending Hyundai A-League Champions Adelaide United in the Westfield FFA Cup.
Chandler said his side’s determination to play to the final whistle was one of their greatest strengths.
