- Lions have been high-pressers, but capable of keeping it tidy in possession, while Magic are a compact, counter-attacking team.
- Jackson Hart-Phillips has been involved in several Lions goals during their early NPL fixtures.
- Queensland Lions are clear favourites with the bookies and Magic United are very much outsiders.
Familiar foes will meet for the first time at NPL level
Sunday’s NPL Queensland match between Queensland Lions SC and Magic United TFA will be the first-ever senior NPL clash between the two clubs.
Lions boss Darren Sime has brought a lot of organisation and cohesion to the side and has made the Lions a dangerous side that are high-pressers, but also capable of possessing the ball well and transitioning quickly on the break.
The Lions currently sit in the top half of the early NPL Queensland table on 3-4 points from the opening 2-3 matches, showing they have been competitive in their first three games.
Lions were 3-1 winners at Rochedale Rovers, but drew 2-2 at home to Gold Coast Knights. Sime’s side were also beaten 2-1 by Olympic FC away from home, so they haven’t been consistent enough to win, but they have been dangerous.
Alwin Komolong, a Papua New Guinea international, is an experienced defender who anchors the Lions backline and brings a wealth of leadership and ability in set-piece play.
Magic have collected 3 points from their opening two games in NPL Queensland, but they’ve been up and down so far - 3-1 winners over Gold Coast United and thumped 0-7 at home by the same Knights.
Magic’s coaching group have a pragmatic approach, setting their team up to be compact and ready to counter, but they have the quality to hurt teams when they can get bodies in behind the opposition defence.
Hart-Phillips is a livewire for the Lions, but K. Ueno, J. Aitken and H. Lane can all provide goals for Magic if they are on their game.
Lions will look to exploit the gaps in Magic’s line