OXLEY High School's open-age girls soccer team is one step closer to glory after progressing to the final four of the 2019 Puma Cup.
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Travelling to Sydney to take on Woolooware High School in the quarter finals, the Oxley Girls were made to work for their victory.
Woolooware got on top of their country opponents early in the game, taking a 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
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Oxley coach Darren Desmid said the deficit put his girls in "unusual position".
"That was actually the first goal our girls have had scored on them during the tournament," Desmid told the Leader.
"When we came into the half-time break, we felt as though we had controlled the majority of the first half, despite the goal.
"We then got together and had a chat about what we needed to do to come from behind and win the game."
The side wasted little time implementing the half-time plan as Emma Allen got to work creating an opportunity for Emma James to score an equaliser.
"After we got that first goal we felt as though it was only a matter of time until we scored a second goal," Desmid said.
"The girls had really found another gear."
Allen continued to cause the Woolooware defenders headaches as she surged forward with 10 minutes remaining to score a second for Oxley and secure a semi final berth.
"It was a massive result for us," Desmid said.
"The girls really dug deep and fought hard to come from behind and get the job done.
"I couldn't be prouder of them."
Oxley will now look to the semi final showdown against Rouse Hill on August 14.
Desmid said the side was "full of self belief" after the victory.
"In some ways going into the half-time break behind might be the best thing for us," he said.
"We have probably had things on our own terms for most of the tournament, that shows with us only conceding the one goal so far.
"This was a real acid test for us.
"To come up against a big Sydney-based opponent and come back from a half-time defect will certainly hold the team in good stead going forward."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
