PLAYSTATION 4 NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUES: CANBERRA
MATCHDAY 2
Saturday 9th April 2016

Woden-Weston FC 4 (Matthew Waters 15’, Bensah Afiabo 21’, Ben Grieg 31’, Daniel Di-Salvatore 80’) FFA COE 3 (John Roberts 4’ (pen), 13’, 19’)
(Woden Park)

Woden-Weston over-turned a 3-1 deficit to record a remarkable 4-3 win over the FFA COE at Woden Park on Saturday evening to claim their first win of the season.  It was a result that hardly seemed likely as the hosts were left chasing their tails in the opening twenty minutes as the FFA COE roared into a comfortable lead, however, Woden-Weston FC never laid down and they constantly badgered the Australian youngsters with a combination of high pressing and pace in transition. Key to that success was the industrious nature of Richy Hurtado Lora, the Spanish import, dictating his team’s tempo and being the creative hub in the centre of the park. It was Lora’s set-piece ability that was at the heart of Woden-Weston’s response to falling behind as he played a pivotal part in their early goals. Before that the FFA COE had the best possible start when striker John Roberts, who would net a hat-trick in the opening 19 minutes, was felled by Woden-Weston goalkeeper Josh Wade. Roberts coolly slammed home the resultant penalty. He was on target again in the 13th minute, rising highest to imperiously meet a corner with a thumping header that fizzed past Wade. At 2-0 Woden-Weston was looking shaky, however they pulled a goal back when Matthew Waters reacted fastest to a loose ball from a set-piece delivery. The respite was short-lived and the FFA COE restored their two-goal cushion when Roberts hooked a speculative half-volley over his shoulder and into the far corner. Far from being deterred the home team hit back again within minutes and Bensah Afiabo exchanged passes with Lora and drilled a purposeful finish into the bottom corner. And an exciting opening half-hour was crowned when Lora tested Jordan Griffiths in the FFA COE goal and, when the ‘keeper spilled the fierce drive, Captain Ben Grieg was on hand to slot home the loose ball. The second half was a far more sedate affair with chances at a premium but it was Woden-Weston who won it in the final ten. Substitute Daniel Di-Salvatore has bags of pace and he used it to full advantage when slid through on goal, out-pacing his marker and finishing with aplomb, clipping the ball over the advancing Griffiths. There was one more heart-stopping moment for the hosts when Roberts got clear and was hauled down inside the area for a stonewall penalty. Fortunately for those of a Woden-Weston persuasion, the forward has already been flagged offside. 

Woden-Weston FC: 1. Josh WADE, 2. Bradley OLIVERA, 3. Adam DE FRANCESCHI, 4. Mitch KORDA, 5. Jean-Baptiste BLAISE, 6. Ben GRIEG, 7. Matthew WATERS, 8. Richy HURTADO LORA, 10. Caleb BROWN, 11. Bensah AFIABO, 15. Tim DEHELEAN
Substitutes used: 1. Kris TRAJANOVSKI, 9. Daniel DI-SALVATORE, 14. Arok THON
FFA COE: 12. Jordan GRIFFITHS, 3. Patrick SCIBILO, 4. Kaleb COX, 5. Joel KING, 6. Kai TREWIN, 9. John ROBERTS, 11. Mirza MURATOVIC, 15. Luke CALLEN, 20. Bryce BAFFORD, 22. Jaidon SELDON, 23. Marc TOKICH
Substitutes used: 10. Lachlan BROOK, 14. Rahman AKBARI, 16. Ben OBST
YELLOW CARDS: 1. Josh WADE, 3. Adam DE FRANCESCHI, 8. Richy HURTADO LORA, 11. Bensah AFIABO (Woden-Weston FC), 3. Patrick SCIBILO (FFA COE)
RED CARDS: Nil

Sunday 10th April
Gungahlin United 2 (Alex Moscaritolo 29’, Liam Walsh 85’) Tigers FC 2 (Stephen Domenici 61’, Nicolas Abot 73’)
(Gungahlin Enclosed)

By David Jordan

Gungahlin United left it late to snatch their first point of the season on Sunday, as Liam Walsh smashed home a second-chance ball in the 85th minute to clinch a 2-2 draw with Tigers FC. On a cloudy afternoon at Gungahlin Enclosed, goals from Stephen Domenici and Nikolas Abot for Tigers cancelled out Alex Moscaritolo’s early tiebreaker, before Walsh ensured a share of the points for his side. Tigers started the better of the two sides, controlling the majority of the ball, however Gungahlin threatened sporadically and looked as if they could be more dangerous in the final third. Walsh had the best chance early as he was released into inside-left channel by Jason O’Dwyer, but could only fire his shot straight at Jakob Cole in the visiting goals. He made up for it in the 28th minute though, just moments after Tigers had a goal ruled out for offside, as a similar exchange of passing saw Walsh dart into the box and lash his early effort inside Cole at his near post. The score remained 1-0 for the rest of the half despite Tigers best efforts, with Abot coming close first with a speculative chip and then a fantastic overhead kick effort which sailed just over the bar. Tigers started the better of the two sides again for the second half, but only five minutes in came under threat as United’s Mitch Steenbergen charged into the box after a bouncing ball, only for a last-ditch tackle from Nahuel Guerrero to stem the danger. In the 61st minute, Tigers got themselves back into the clash with a calamitous error from United goal keeper Jason Denham. The No. 1’s touch from a back pass was more than wayward under pressure from Stephen Domenici, and the Tigers forward made no mistake in capitalising and poking home.  And just 12 minutes later they were ahead, as a darting run down the right from Osman Fofanah finished with a delightful low cross to the back post where Abot was on and to tuck home for a 2-1 advantage. Fofanah had the chance to seal the game just moments later but blew his effort well over the bar from close range. Tigers were made to pay shortly afterwards as Walsh latched onto a lifted through ball in the box, slamming his effort into the cross bar before rifling home on the second opportunity past Cole. The draw gives Gungahlin their first points of the new season, while leaving Tigers undefeated so far after a big win last weekend.

Gungahlin United: 1. Jason DENHAM, 2. Alex MOSCARITOLO, 3. David DEXTER, 4. Christian JUNNA, 5. Jason O’DWYER, 7. Regan WALSH, 10. Marcial MUNOZ, 11. Jake WILSENER, 12. Mitch STEENBERGEN, 14. Liam WALSH, 15. David JENKINS
Substitutes used: 6. Justin RANKINE, 9. Nathan DUCK, 17, Frano BLAZEVIC
Tigers FC: 1. Jakob COLE, 2. Nahuel GUERREO, 3. Milan POPOVICH, 4. Osman FOFANAH, 5. Julian BORGNA, 6. Dejan SANTRAC, 7. Goran JOSIFOVSKI, 8. Jeremias IBARRA, 9. Daniel BARAC, 14. Nicolas ABOT, 17. Stephen DOMENICI
Substitutes used: 10. Alex OLORIEGBE, 15.  Hussein FUREJE 
YELLOW CARDS: 7. Regan WALSH (Gungahlin United), 2. Nahuel GUERREO, 9. Daniel BARAC, 14. Nicolas ABOT (Tigers FC)
RED CARDS: Nil

Monaro Panthers 0 Belconnen United 2 (Matt Grbesa 30’, Toby Richter 44’)
(Riverside Stadium)

By William Bremner

In what on paper looked a tricky encounter Belconnen United grabbed all three points in a dominant display at the Riverside Stadium. Monaro Panthers battled manfully throughout but after man of the match Matt Grbesa opened the scoring the result was never in doubt. Indeed the final score line of 2-0 in favour of the visitors was a lot more comfortable than it might appear. The opening goal, when it came, was the result of a well worked corner and followed a period of sustained pressure where Belconnen's front four, brilliantly led by Dustin Wells, had caused the Panthers rear guard plenty of problems. Indeed Dean Ugrinic might have questioned why more clear-cut chances had not been created given the quality of play on display. The first goal was a thing of beauty. The corner, taken from the Blue Devils left, was played to Cameron Reinhart just outside the penalty area. A sure touch and precise cross found Grbesa rising majestically at the far post to nod past Nathan Alferink in the Panthers goal.  After the goal Belconnen continued to press. Wells volleyed straight at Alferink From distance and Nicholas Rathjen followed suit before being forced off with a head knock. Sporadic Panthers attacks were easily dealt with and it was no surprise when the visitors extended their lead. Awarded a free kick just outside the 'D' Wells shot and hit the wall. The ball bounced around inside the Panthers defence and their inability to clear was given maximum punishment. As the ball looped to Reinhart he volleyed a left foot cross to the far post were debutant Toby Richter gleefully accepted the chance nodding firmly home.  Leading 2-0 at the break, the largely under strength Belconnen looked comfortable. Injuries and other absences had robbed Belconnen of perhaps five or six first team regulars and this perhaps was reason enough for a second half performance in which they remained largely untroubled but didn't approach the same fluency as they had in their first half display. Even so, the introduction of the hugely promising Nick Rolls lifted the team and his impact was greatly received. Chances were created, perhaps the best to Jason Ugrinic, on for Connor Nolan, who lobbed over when clear, but no further goals were scored. For Monaro it was not all doom and gloom. They toiled determinedly and did not for one minute shirk their collective task. Coach Plath's 4-1-4-1 formation, so close to bringing a result last week, didn't quite work this week. Ace marksmen Mark Shields, so often the source of goals for the Panthers, was effectively shackled by young inclusion Ahmed Ugool and that largely nullified the Monaro threat. Plath will though be pleased with his charges determination to carry out the game plan and on this display, although outclassed, can be confident that a change in fortunes is not that far away. 

Monaro Panthers: 21. Nathan ALFERINK, 3. Daniel HEARLE, 5. Chris RUIZ, 6. Alan MURPHY, 7. Daniel FELLIZZI, 8. Sam ROESTBAKKEN, 9. Lachlan HUNTER, 10. Mark SHIELDS, 11. Darian MCGARRY-WATSON, 12. Tony SPASESKI, 13. Ed MCCARTHY
Substitutes used: 2. Kwan HAP LEE, 4. Luka MARKULIN, 20. Caleb CULLEN-RUA
Belconnen United: 20. Adam PERAKOVIC, 3. Dustin WELLS, 4. Matt GRBESA, 5. Toby RICHTER, 7. Nicholas RATHJEN, 8. Conor NOLAN, 9. Sam SMITH, 11. Goran MUKEVSKI, 13. Ahmed UGOOL, 14. Callum BEATON, 16. Cameron REINHART
Substitutes used: 10. Jason UGRINIC, 12. Aisosa IHEGIE, 15. Nick ROLLS
YELLOW CARDS: 6. Alan MURPHY, 10. Mark SHIELDS, 12. Tony SPASESKI (Monaro Panthers)
RED CARDS: Nil

Canberra FC 1 (Thomas James 70’) Canberra Olympic 2 (Jordan Tsekenis 60’, Robbie Cattanach 82’)
(Deakin Stadium)

A goal from Robbie Cattanach with eight minutes remaining decided the Grand Final rematch in favour of Canberra Olympic who out-thought Canberra FC 2-1 at Deakin Stadium. Cattanach, who was mostly quiet and held in check throughout a largely prosaic encounter in front of around 300 supporters, latched onto a Jeremy Habtemariam through ball in the 82nd minute and finished low and hard underneath the body of FC goalkeeper Rory Larkin, to seal the points. It was one of two goals that the lively Habtemariam was to create in his time on the pitch, replacing the injured Callum Smith with a quarter of the match remaining, to great effect. Earlier the match had failed to live up to its billing as both teams cancelled each other out in the key areas of the pitch and with the forward-thinking players on show restricted to half-chances and living off scraps. Olympic probably had the best of the opening half and certainly when closest to breaking the deadlock. Indeed, Cattanach should have put Olympic ahead in the first ten minutes but saw his effort, from around the penalty spot, beaten to safety by an outstanding save from Larkin. The FC stopper denied the ACT Player of the Year again in the 27th minute, reacting well to tip a deflected Cattanach strike around the post for a corner. Outside of that, Bernard Rene might have given Olympic the lead when he beat Larkin to a bouncing ball to loft it into the danger zone where, incredibly, Josip Jadric diverted the ball onto the onrushing Daniel Colbertaldo only for it to rocket over the crossbar. FC’s only real moment of inspiration occurred five minutes into the goal-less second half as Thomas James spotted Angelo Konstantinou off his line and executed a perfect lob from 35m out and close to the touchline that had the Olympic stopper beaten and cannoned back off the crossbar. The game finally got the goal it needed on the hour. Habtemariam, causing havoc with his pace and direct running, made it by bursting past his marker and cutting the ball back into the six yard box where Jordan Tsekenis has the relatively simple task of turning it into the empty net to spark wild celebrations amongst the Olympic support. FC found an equaliser ten minutes later when persistence from James forced an uncharacteristic error from Konstantinou who was caught trying to shepherd the ball into the area allowing the English forward the easiest of goals. That set up a grandstand finale which, without containing the fizz and crack of previous matches between these protagonists had its moment of magic with Cattanach finding the perfect denouement for those in blue. 

Canberra FC: 1. Rory LARKIN, 6. Ryan KEIR, 7. Robbie DEELEY, 8. Ian GRAHAM, 9. Thomas JAMES, 10. Dominic GIAMPAOLO, 11. Marko VRKIC, 14. Josip JARDIC, 15. Jordan LAMB, 17. Aiden BRUNSKILL, 18. Misko NAUMOSKI
Substitutes used: 5. Izach CLEMENTS, 21. Nikola BARISIC 
Canberra Olympic: 20. Angelo KONSTANTINOU, 2. Tim BOBOLAS, 4. Daniel COLBERTALDO, 5. Phil YARNOLD, 8. Bernard RENE, 12. Adam ROGIC, 14. Callum SMITH, 15. Tom MCLACHLAN, 17. Nick BOBOLAS, 18. Jordan TSEKENIS, 37. Robbie CATTANACH
Substitutes used: 6. Jeremy HABTEMARIAM, 9. Philippe BERNABO-MADRID, 99. Victor YANES
YELLOW CARDS: 7. Robbie DEELEY, 8. Ian GRAHAM, 9. Thomas JAMES, 10. Dominic GIAMPAOLO, 14. Josip JADRIC (Canberra FC), 6. Jeremy HABTEMARIAM (Canberra Olympic)
RED CARDS: Nil

Tuggeranong United 5 (Marco Gayer 13’, 14’, Sam Shadbolt 29’, Andrew Slavich 58’, Jonathan Reis (pen) 90+5’) CU Academy 2 (Tomas Krklec 4’, 12’)
(Kambah 2)

Tuggeranong claimed a first league win since Friday 1st August 2014 with a 5-2 win over the CU Academy at Kambah. The success snapped an 18-game losing streak and pushed United up to fifth on the ladder after two rounds. Such has been the paucity of success at United sine the heady days of Federation Cup glory and Westfield FFA Cup runs, that the win was greeted with scenes of celebration in the home dressing room as the relief appeared palpable. For a stage though it almost looked like Tuggeranong’s nightmare run was set to continue. The Academy, who were looking to bounce back from their heavy opening day loss at Belconnen, roared out of the blocks and, by the twelfth minute, were two goals to the good. Tomas Krklec missed the set-back at McKellar Park and more than made up for his absence by grabbing a brace of goals inside the opening moments. Krklec took advantage of some defensive aberrations to put the visiting side two-goals to the good in next to no time. Crucially for Tuggeranong they not only got back into the match but were able to draw level with the next 120 seconds. Marco Gayer was the man who made the difference as the speedy and stocky front man brushed aside some challengers to net not once, but twice within the space of sixty seconds. That double set-back appeared to rock the Academy boys out of the momentum that they had sustained and the match sung inexorably in favour of the hosts. They were ahead by the half-hour as Sam Shadbolt met a cross to bullet a finish past Finn Jurak and give Tuggeranong a 3-2 lead at the interval. The next goal was always likely to prove pivotal in this type of encounter and it was Tuggeranong who got in thirteen minutes into the second half. Andrew Slavich was one of a handful of players brought into the club to add a goal-scoring edge in the final third in 2016 and he repaid the faith put in him by Head Coach Miro Trninic by notching his first in Tuggeranong colours. Try as they might the Academy couldn’t force their way back into the match and the icing was put on the cake in stoppage time when United was awarded a penalty. Jonathan Reis, who had only been on the field for three minutes, stepped up to slot home and complete the United win. 

Tuggeranong United: 1. Tom BARTON, 4. Sam SHADBOLT, 5. Nick FAUST, 7. Nikoloas KALFAS, 8. Daniel ROBERTS, 9. Aaron CASHMAN, 10. Emilio RISTA, 11. Marco GAYER, 14. Andrew SLAVICH, 15. Liam HIGHMORE, 16. Eddie COGGAN
Substitutes used: 3. Jonathan REIS, 13. Deng ALEER DENG
CU Academy: 32. Finn JURAK, 2. Ross COSTANZO, 4. Antoni TIMOTHEOU, 5. Niko KRESIC, 6. Thomas MILICEVIC, 7. Joshua GULEVSKI, 9. Sam WHITHEAR, 11. Tomas KRKELC, 15. Lachlan GRIFFITHS, 13. Daniel SUBASIC, 14. Niko UDJUR
Substitutes used: 1. Sam BROWN, 10. Daniel FABRIZIO, 20. David CARDER
YELLOW CARDS: 4. Sam SHADBOLT, 8. Daniel ROBERTS, 11. Marco GAYER, 15. Liam HIGHMORE (Tuggeranong United), 1. Sam BROWN (CU Academy)
RED CARDS: 4. Antoni TIMOTHEOU (CU Academy)

TABLE

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Belconnen United	2	2	0	0	10	1	+9	6
2	Canberra Olympic	2	2	0	0	5	1	+4	6
3	Tigers FC	2	1	1	0	7	3	+4	4
4	FFA COE	2	1	0	1	8	6	+2	3
5	Tuggeranong United	2	1	0	1	7	7	0	3
6	Canberra FC	2	1	0	1	4	4	0	3
7	Woden-Weston FC	2	1	0	1	5	8	-3	3
8	Gungahlin United	2	0	1	1	2	4	-2	1
9	Monaro Panthers	2	0	0	2	2	5	-3	0
10	CU Academy	2	0	0	2	3	13	-10	0

LEADING SCORERS 
5 Sam SMITH (Belconnen United)
3 John ROBERTS (FFA COE), Nicolas ABOT, Stephen DOMENICI (Tigers FC)
2 Jason UGRINIC (Belconnen United), Jordan TSEKENIS (Canberra Olympic), Tomas KRKLEC (CU Academy), Bryce BAFFORD, Jaidon SELDON (FFA COE), Domenic COLUCCIELLO, Marco GAYER (Tuggeranong United)
1 Matt GRBESA, Toby RICHTER, Dustin WELLS (Belconnen United), Nikola BARISIC, Robbie DEELEY, Josip JADRIC, Thomas JAMES (Canberra FC), Tim BOBOLAS, Robbie CATTANACH, Jeremy HABETMARIAM (Canberra Olympic), Joshua GULEVSKI (CU Academy), Marc TOKICH (FFA COE), Alex MOSCARITOLO, Liam WALSH (Gungahlin United), Ed MCCARTHY, Mark SHIELDS (Monaro Panthers), Osman FOFANAH (Tigers FC), Jonathan REIS, Sam SHADBOLT, Andrew SLAVICH (Tuggeranong United), Bensah AFIABO, Daniel DI-SALVATORE, Ben GRIEG, Tom HIRST, Matthew WATERS (Woden-Weston FC)