Sport
4 March, 2025
Goals flow in first round
GOALS were flowing during the Mareeba Bulls Women’s match on Friday night, with the home side notching up a commanding victory, defeating the Leichhardt Lions 6-3.
The match did not go entirely the Bulls’ way, trailing 1-0 and 2-1 in the first half, but the team showed remarkable resilience and determination to fight back.
Midway through the first half, the returning Sam Madrid turned the game on its head with a stunning two-goal burst in the 44th and 45th minutes, sending the Bulls into halftime with a 3-2 lead.
In the second half, the Lions briefly equalised at 3-3, but the Bulls responded in dominant fashion.
Olivia Stanley, a constant threat down the right flank, restored the lead with a fantastic strike for the Bulls’ fifth goal.
However, the standout moment of the night belonged to Leksi Mukadi, whose brilliant solo effort lit up Borzi Park.
Picking up the ball just beyond halfway, Mukadi weaved past a defender before unleashing a stunning 25-metre strike, an early contender for goal of the season.
No doubt, the double goals from Madrid, Stanley, and Mukadi secured an emphatic opening-round win for the women, setting the tone for a strong campaign ahead.
“This win speaks volumes about the team’s spirit and determination,” head coach Christian Mukadi said.
“We faced early challenges but showed incredible fight to come back and dominate
the game.”
Tough start for Bulls men
IT was a different story for the Mareeba Bulls Men’s side on Saturday when they faced the Marlin Coast Rangers at Trinity Beach.
The Bulls fell 5-1 to the reigning premiers in a tough fixture away from home.
The home side took a 2-0 lead into halftime before being awarded two penalties, extending their advantage to 4-0.
Bulls midfielder Leon Persessini pulled one back for Mareeba, but former Bulls junior Joshua Pin sealed the result for the Rangers with a late goal in the 90th minute.
Despite the setback, the squad remains focused and determined, shifting their attention to this weekend’s home fixture against the Redlynch Strikers.
The Bulls will be eager to bounce back in front of their home crowd.
