State team football returned but New South Wales and Queensland were forced to share the spoils as both matches went to penalties on Saturday at a rainy Perry Park.
The Queenslanders made their home ground advantage count in the opening game – claiming the Watson-O’Connor Cup as the Queensland Women edged out their southern rivals 5-4 on penalties.
However, the Blues exacted their revenge in the men’s fixture after netting a late equaliser before prevailing 4-2 in the resulting shoot-out to lift the Gibb-Masters Cup.
The result marked a successful return of Queensland and New South Wales’ enduring football rivalry, with 15 years passing since the state team’s last met and over a century since their first ever fixture.
Scroll down to watch the highlights from both matches.
NEWS:
NEWS:
Queensland Women’s v New South Wales Women’s
Fresh off a brace against Brisbane Roar last weekend, Logan Lightning’s Shea Connors repeated the dose as the Queenslanders struck late to prevail on penalties in the opening game.
The sides exchanged tentative attempts on goal early before Connors found the opener midway through the first-half – slotting a composed finish after being found unmarked by Tegan Riding’s cross.
The hosts continue to threaten before the break, but failed to capitalise on their opportunities and were made to pay just minutes into the second half as Northern Tigers’ Hannah McNulty capitalised on a goalkeeper error.
WATCH: Highlights from the Kappa Festival of Football Women’s fixture between Queensland and New South Wales
The lead was doubled just three minutes later as the Queensland defence failed to clear a speculative floated pass, allowing Football NSW Institute attacker Jordan Jasnos a composed one-on-one finish.
With the rain increasing, the Queenslanders came home with a wet sail and Connors ensured a shoot-out conclusion by tucking away an equaliser in the 84th minute.
Despite Blues goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln making two stops in the shoot-out it was not enough – with two missed penalties setting the scene for the decisive save from Queensland’s Isabella Shuttleworth before Cannon Clough delivered the decisive spot kick.
Queensland Men’s vs New South Wales Men’s
The drama continued in the Men’s fixture, but this time it was the visitors that turned the momentum of a late equaliser into a shoot-out victory.
Queensland started brightly and had the lead inside two minutes when Olympic FC’s Jez Lofthouse delivered a stinging finish into the top corner.
The hosts’ continued to fashion the better of the chances, but were brought undone in the 38th minute when Queensland goalkeeper Lachlan Hunter parried Chris Price’s innocuous cross into his own net.
Further chances presented in the second stanza as both sides struck the frame – Lofthouse seeing his one-on-one finish deflect onto the crossbar before Leroy Jennings was foiled by the near post for the Blues.
WATCH: Highlights from the Kappa Festival of Football Men’s fixture between Queensland and New South Wales
Queensland ultimately restored their lead from the penalty spot through Gold Coast Knights’ Harrison Sawyer after Lofthouse was felled in the box in the 70th minute.
But there was yet more drama to come as Charles Lokolingoy rose high in injury time to head in an equaliser and force the shoot-out.
From there the Blues would not be denied as goalkeeper Nenad Vekic delivered two stunning stops in the shoot-out to set-up Lokolingoy to drill home the winning penalty kick.
