Power's focus firmly on finals

Above: AJ Kelly Park was packed for last night's cup tie. Pictures Blackstone Media

Peninsula Power’s cup run may be over, but their race for league honours is hotting up.

Western Sydney Wanderers helped attract a crowd of 1800 to AJ Kelly Park last night for the Hahn Australian Cup Round of 32 tie.

Wanderers, the only A-League club to have won the Asian Champions League, scored three first-half goals to book their place in the last 16.

Power keeper Jordan Thurtell saved a second-half penalty which denied Bulgarian international Bozhidar Kraev a hat-trick.

However, Power’s focus has already switched from the national spotlight back to Queensland and the battle for a top four finish.

Power is currently third on the NPL Qld ladder, six points behind regional rivals Moreton City Excelsior (MCE), with each having five games to play.

Lions are second, two points behind MCE but with only four games left and Gold Coast United fourth, two points off Power, again with four fixtures to go.

“It was a great occasion,” Power’s Football Director Ben Ryan said of last night’s cup tie, which was broadcast live on Paramount+.

“The first half was disappointing, but we got going after the break. The crowd really stayed with us and had their moment with the penalty save.”

Ryan said the attendance was “up there with some of the best” at AJ Kelly Park over the last 25 years.

Power’s NPL run-in is mixed. They twice face struggling St George Willawong, which is 10 points adrift of safety at the foot of the table.

In between, there are home clashes with Lions and Brisbane City (eighth), plus a trip to Olympic (seventh).

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“Moreton City obviously have the advantage and we just have to focus on ourselves,” Ryan said.

“In these situations, I don’t think any games are easier or harder than any others.”

Remaining NPL matches:

July 26 – Power v St George Willawong, 6pm

August 2 – Power v Lions, 5pm

August 10 – Olympic v Power, 6pm

August 15 – Power v Brisbane City, 7.30pm

August 23 – St George Willawong v Power 6.15pm