KNIGHTS SLIP UP AGAINST DETERMINED MAGIC

Magic United 1 (U. Ozduzenciler)

Gold Coast Knights 0

HT: 1-0

After a midweek win over second-placed Musgrave, Buffalo Sports Premier League leaders Gold Coast Knights missed the chance to all but seal the Premiership when they went down 1-0 to Magic United at Carrara Stadium.

Umit Ozduzenciler fired the decisive goal just before the 30-minute mark when he found himself on the end of a Brendan Keevers cross and showed good control before slamming home.

It was Magic’s first win of the season against a team above them on the ladder and this triumph, coupled with another three points gained midweek against Surfers Paradise, gives them the edge in the race for the coveted fourth place.

Coach Brett Budwee, who is yet to see his side draw a game this term, said the result was more important than the performance against the title favourites.

“We didn’t play our most attractive football but we played the football we needed in order to win a game against the Knights. Everyone gave 100%,” Budwee said.

“I told the boys that if we can beat the Knights we can beat anyone on our day. If we can make the top four anything can happen [in the finals],” he added.

Despite the loss the Knights should still claim the Premiership barring a complete form collapse in their last four fixtures and Coach John Stewart took a pragmatic view of the surprise defeat.

“It was one of those nights when just about everyone was off colour. It seemed the harder we tried the less things actually worked for us. Magic are one of those teams who tend to fire up against us and we were far from our best. 

“We’re still happy and it’s [the title] still in our hands. All the other teams have to play each other too so there’ll be points getting dropped somewhere,” said Stewart.

Saturday’s other games, Coomera v Mudgeeraba and Musgrave v Broadbeach United, were postponed due to the recent wet weather and Surfers Paradise v Palm Beach was abandoned after 15 minutes due to floodlight failure.