Canberra Olympic 4 (Tom McLachlan 18’, Callum Smith 52’, 74’, Tim Bobolas 54’) Tigers FC 1 (Hussein Fureje 78’)

Canberra Olympic roared into the PlayStation 4® National Premier Leagues: Capital Football Grand Final with a 4-1 success over Tigers FC at Deakin Stadium. An early red card for Tigers FC defender Liam Highmore, who was dismissed for a professional foul in the 9th minute, swung the momentum of the game in favour of Olympic who took control of proceedings and never looked back once they hit the front.

The dismissal came off the back of a glorious chance for Tigers to take the lead as leading scorer Alex Oloriegbe danced his way into the area leaving himself with only Angelo Konstantinou to beat. The Olympic stopper spread himself superbly to block the effort and, from the resulting rapid counter-attack, Highmore felled Jordan Tsekenis and was adjudged to have denied the forward a goalscoring chance. 

It didn’t take long for Olympic to take advantage of the extra-man, as within ten minutes of gaining a numerical advantage, they were in front. A pass released midfielder Tom McLachlan who out-muscled the covering Tigers FC defence to slide a composed finish past the advancing Francois Bangweni and into the net.

Surprisingly, it was the only goal in the first half of the match that Olympic dominated. Tsekenis went close twice and McLachlan may have done better when he squeezed a shot wide when well-placed from an angle. Robbie Cattanach also dragged a decent opening across goal as Olympic threatened to put the tie out of Tigers reach. 

The second goal that Olympic had been threatening arrived seven minutes into the second half. Cattanach was the provider, squaring for Callum Smith to sweep imperiously into the net past Bangweni. And the match was put out of reach of Tigers just two minutes later as Olympic added a third. Adam Rogic headed a corner back into the danger area and Tim Bobolas rammed home a half-volley. 

Tigers made a gallant fist of forcing their way back into the match as Jose DeFilippe and Julian Borgna tested the concentration levels of Konstantinou but Olympic put the icing on the cake sixteen minutes from time. Cattanach was involved again, sending Smith clean through on goal and the midfielder had the composure to round the ‘keeper and tap it into the net to seal Olympic’s pace in the final.

There was a late consolation for the Tigers as substitute Hussein Fureje took advantage of Konstantinou’s misjudgment of a through ball to slide into the empty goal but it was way too late for the Tigers as Olympic had already secured their golden ticket. 

Tigers FC: 1. Francois BANGWENI, 2. Liam HIGHMORE, 3. Milan POPOVICH, 4. Osman FOFANAH, 5. Dejan SANTRAC, 7. Goran JOSIFOVSKI, 8. Jeremias IBARRA, 9. Julian BORGNA, 10. Alex OLORIEGBE, 11. Jose DEFILIPPI, 14. Thai TRAN
Substitutes used: 12. Misko NAUMOSKI, 13. Hussein FUREJE, 15. Daniel ROBERTS
Canberra Olympic: 1. Angelo KONSTANTINOU, 2. Tim BOBOLAS, 4. Daniel COLBERTALDO, 5. Jon TOOLE, 10. Robbie CATTANACH, 12. Adam ROGIC, 14. Callum SMITH, 15. Tom MCLACHLAN, 17. Nick BOBOLAS, 18. Phil YARNOLD, 99. Jordan TSEKENIS
Substitutes used: 6. Adrian MACOR, 7. Pat ROSS-MAGEE, 8. Bernard Rene
Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: 15. Tom MCLACHLAN (Canberra Olympic), 8. Jeremias IBARRA, 11. Jose DEFILIPPI (Tigers FC) 
RED CARD: 2. Liam HIGHMORE (Tigers FC)
Match Officials: Matt CROPPER (Referee), Adam POWERS, Nia SOUTHWELL (Assistant Referees), Owen GOLDRICK (Fourth Official)

Photo: Canberra Times