PLAYSTATION 4 NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUES: CANBERRA
MATCHDAY 11

Wednesday 8th June 2016
CU Academy 3 (Daniel Fabrizio 16’, 88’, Joshua Gulevski 41’) FFA COE 7 (Rahmat Akbari 13’, 29’, 64’, Jacob Italiano 21’, Mirza Muratovic 77’, Bryce Bafford 86’, John Roberts 87’)
(AIS Synthetic)

A hat-trick from winger Rahmat Akbari helped the FFA COE to a 7-3 victory over the CU Academy in an end-to-end encounter at the AIS Synthetic pitch on the first ever Wednesday afternoon PS4 NPL match played in Canberra. Akbari was the main difference between the teams for 65 minutes, showing his skill and pace to great affect and causing numerous problems to a CU Academy defence that, on more than one occasion, was their own worst enemy. 

Akbari it was that opened the scoring in the match as he received a pass goal side of the Academy defence and clipped a perfect finish cross Jakeb Wiseman in goal and into the far corner. But it was an advantage that was short-lived. Joshua Gulevski created the equaliser, swinging over a delightful cross that FFA COE custodian Matthew Sutton couldn’t gather cleanly, allowing Daniel Fabrizio to stab in from close range. 

That proved to be something of a false dawn for the Academy who preceded to hand a brace of goals to their opponents before the half-hour was up. Firstly a horrendous pass across the face of his own goal by an Academy midfielder was seized upon gleefully by Jacob Italiano who crashed his shot into the top corner. And, eight minutes later, Wiseman’s throw, after gathering a cross, clattered off his own defender and fell invitingly for Akbari to lob the retreating ‘keeper for 3-1.

It was a lead that was halved shortly before the break as Joshua Gulevski, who had enjoyed a good opening forty-five, was on hand to convert a well-worked move and give the Academy hope of a second half comeback.

That hope disappeared when the FFA COE bagged their fourth in the 64th minute. Before the strike, expertly converted by Akbari to bring up his treble, both sides had threatened further goals with chances squandered at both ends of the field. However, once Akbari scored it was inevitable that the FFA COE would emerge triumphant. The goal appeared to deflate the Academy and substitute Mirza Muratovic side-footed home their fifth after excellent approach work from John Roberts.

Bryce Bafford, captaining the side, added the sixth goal with four minutes to play, prompting a spate of three goals in three minutes. Roberts, again excellent at number nine for the FFA COE, netted his seventh of the season a minute later before Fabrizio recorded his second of the match straight from the resumption. That was the last goal in a frenzy of activity as the FFA COE claimed the points. 

CU Academy: 12. Jakeb WISEMAN, 3. Ridwan HANNAN, 4. Antoni TIMOTHEOU, 5. Niko KRESIC, 7. Joshua GULEVSKI, 9. Sam WHITHEAR, 10. Daniel FABRIZIO, 11. Tomas KRKLEC, 14. Niko UJDUR, 18. Jonathan TUREK, 20. David CARDER
Substitutions used: 6. Bul JUACH, 8. Adrian MACOR, 17. Tony MADAFFARI
FFA COE: 1. Matthew SUTTON, 2. James FLETCHER, 4. Kaleb COX, 5. Joel KING, 6. Kai TREWIN, 7. Jacob ITALIANO, 9. John ROBERTS, 10. Lachlan BROOK, 14. Rahmat AKBARI, 16. Ben OBST, 20. Bryce BAFFORD
Substitutions used: 11. Mirza MURATOVIC, 17. Louis D’ARRIGO, 23. Marc TOKICH
YELLOW CARDS: 4. Antoni TIMOTHEOU (CU Academy), 9. John ROBERTS (FFA COE)
RED CARDS: Nil

Saturday 11th June
FFA COE 4 (Jacob Italiano 17’, Marc Tokich 40’, Bryce Bafford 53’, Rahmat Akbari 90’) Woden-Weston FC 0
(AIS)

The FFA COE cruised to a 4-0 win over Woden-Weston FC to make it two wins in a week following their impressive showing in defeating CU Academy on Wednesday. The Wanderers were never really in the game after conceding in the first twenty minutes as the home side dominated the possession and took the game to their opponents who were left to live off sporadic breakaways. 

After a brisk opening in which Kai Trewin volleyed over after a neat lay-off by John Roberts, and Rahmat Akbari saw a shot deflected wide, again after impressive build-up play from Roberts, the hosts went ahead. Unsurprisingly, Roberts was heavily involved in the creation, beating his man and sliding the ball across the area for Jacob Italiano to clinically side-foot past Josh Wade.

Bryce Bafford was next to go close, his shot being well blocked by Wade whilst at the other end Woden-Weston FC should have equalised when Richy Hurtado Lora skipped past a couple of challenges to get through on goal, only for his shot to be turned around the post by Matthew Sutton, when he had a player in support free for what would have been a simple tap-in. 

Woden-Weston FC was made to pay for this miss when FFA COE went 2-0 up five minutes from half-time. Marc Tokich exchanged passes with Roberts before curling an emphatic finish past Wade from just inside the area. The goal gave the Centre of Excellence a cushion heading into the interval.

Any chance that the visitors had of getting back into the match was relinquished eight minutes after the interval. Man of the match Roberts was, once more, the instigator finding space where there was previously none and laying the ball off for Bafford to crash home a half-volley into the back of the net. Shortly after substitute Louis D’Arrigo sent Akbari in but his shot cannoned off the outside of the post.

The winger, who claimed a hat-trick against the FFA COE, wasn’t to be denied and grabbed his fourth of the week, and the games’ fourth goal in stoppage time. Eduardo Castaneda, who enjoyed a lively cameo off the bench, slid a pass in behind the Woden-Weston FC defence and Akbari did the rest.

FFA COE: 1. Matthew SUTTON, 2. James FLETCHER, 4. Kaleb COX, 5. Joel KING, 6. Kai TREWIN, 7. Jacob ITALIANO, 9. John ROBERTS, 14. Rahmat AKBARI, 16. Ben OBST, 20. Bryce BAFFORD, 23. Marc TOKICH
Substitutes used: 8. Eduardo CASTENEDA, 17. Louis D’ARRIGO, 21. Melad AHMED
Woden-Weston FC: 1. Josh WADE, 2. Bradley OLIVERA, 3. Adam DE FRANCESCHI, 
5. Jarryd CLIFTON, 6. Ben GRIEG, 7. Matthew WATERS, 8. Richy HURTADO LORA, 9. Daniel DI-SALVATORE, 12. Tim DEHELEAN, 13. Roy ROMEO, 15. Christopher MCEWAN
Substitutes used: 10. Caleb BROWN, 11. Brady NIXON, 14. Arok THON
YELLOW CARDS: 16. Ben OBST (FFA COE), 8. Richy HURTADO LORA (Woden-Weston FC)
RED CARDS: Nil

Belconnen United 4 (Taylor Beaton 15’, Sam Smith 37’, Jason Ugrinic 40’, Toby Richter 90+1’) Monaro Panthers 0
(McKellar Park)

Belconnen United kept in touch with the league leaders after goals from Taylor Beaton, Sam Smith, Jason Ugrinic and Toby Richter saw the Blue Devils to a 4-0 win over Monaro Panthers at McKellar Park. The home team was never really in any danger of succumbing to the Panthers despite the best efforts of a team that was well structured but lacked that subtlety and creativity to find a way through in the attacking third. 

The match began at a subdued pace with Monaro content to sit back and allow Belconnen plenty of possession in their own half with the result that the Blue Devils were able to dictate the tempo of the encounter. Perhaps fatigued, as much mentally as physically from their midweek Westfield FFA Cup exit, it took the home side a good ten minutes or so to put together any real attack of note.

After that soporific opening David Kemp at last tested the reflexes of the Panthers goalkeeper, with Nathan Alferink diving to his right to push a low shot around the post for a corner. That was a mere prelude to the opening goal of the contest as the Blue Devils worked midfielder Beaton into space and the captain finished with a  crisp drive through a clutch of players and into the bottom corner.

Arguably, it should have been two in the 27th minute when Ugrinic found himself goal-side of the Panthers defensive line but, despite the ball appearing to sit up nicely for him, he rushed the shot and it sliced off the side of his boot harmlessly wide. For the Panthers Ed McCarthy was lively on the counter attack with one fierce effort perfectly struck but straight down the throat of Adam Perakovic in goal. 

The game was done as a contest when the Blue Devils scored a brace of goals within three minutes of each other. Smith netted his seventh of the season in the 37th minute, the beneficiary after Aisosa Ihegie had robbed a dawdling Panthers defender and fed a perfect pass into the path of the young striker who clinically buried his shot. And two became three when Ugrinic made up for his earlier effort with a quickly taken free-kick that curled into the top corner. 

The second half was played at a slow pace with little to show for it until midway through the half when Wells cut onto his right foot and curled a shot at goal that was punched away at full stretch by Alferink. But Alferink could do nothing about the fourth goal as a well-structured move saw Wells find Cameron Reinhart who squared for substitute Toby Richter who hooked home.

Belconnen United: 20. Adam PERAKOVIC, 3. Dustin WELLS, 4. Matt GRBESA, 5. Cameron REINHART, 6. David KEMP, 7. Taylor BEATON, 9. Sam SMITH, 10. Jason UGRINIC, 12. Aisosa IHEGIE, 13. Jonathan REIS, 14. Nicholas DAHL
Substitutes used: 8. Conor NOLAN, 11. Goran MUKEVSKI, 17. Toby RICHTER
Monaro Panthers: 21. Nathan ALFERINK, 3. Daniel HEARLE, 4. Luka MARKULIN, 5. Chris RUIZ, 7. Daniel FELLIZZI, 8. Sam ROESTBAKKEN, 11. Darian MCGARRY-WATSON, 12. Tony SPASESKI, 13. Ed MCCARTHY, 14. Martin DENG, 20. Caleb CULLEN-RUA
Substitutes used: 1. Ryan MOXON, 9. Ohio ASIKHIA, 17. Amanzie KESSIE
YELLOW CARDS: 10. Jason UGRINIC (Belconnen United), 9. Ohio ASIKHIA (Monaro Panthers)
RED CARDS: 14. Martin DENG (Monaro Panthers)

Sunday 12th June
CU Academy 2 (Niko Ujdur 13’, Joshua Gulevski 59’) Tuggeranong United 3 (Andrew Slavich 16’, Tim Anderson 49’, Nikolaos Kalfas 63’)
(Hawker Football Centre)

By Ahmed Jbeili

Goals from Andrew Slavich, Tim Anderson and Nikoloas Kalfas secured Tuggeranong United FC the three points in their 3-2 victory against a valiant CU Academy side at Hawker Football Centre on Sunday. Both sides were coming into the match looking to reignite their season. Tuggeranong who still have a chance to make the PS4 NPL finals mathematically, needed three points desperately. As for the home side, Academy were needing to improve on their recent setbacks and push to get their third win of the season. 

The first half didn’t take long to get started, both sides looking to attack early on in the match. Tuggeranong didn’t waste any time and got the first shots of the game in the opening five minutes. Attackers Kalfas and Slavich both almost scored from outside of the box, only for Academy Goalkeeper Sam Brown to make the crucial saves on both occasions. The home side responded through some high pressing and attackers Joshua Gulevski and Tony Madaffari were troubling the Tuggeranong defence with some dangerous runs. The pressure paid off as Academy broke the deadlock in the 11th minute thanks to midfielder Niko Ujdur. Some smart build-up plays by Academy led to a huge scramble in the box, Ujdur luckily was in the right spot and scored from inside the area.

Celebrations didn’t last long for Academy as Tuggeranong hit back two minutes later thanks to Slavich. The attacker made no mistake, easily slotting it past the keeper Cole to make it 1-1. The goal reinvigorated the visiting team as they amped up the pressure on the home side. Academy who were controlling possession couldn’t get the ball out of their half due to some risky passes out of defence and the constant pressing from Tuggeranong. A quick counter attack in the 32nd minute almost gave Academy the lead after a cross in from the right from Gulevski, just missed a sliding David Carder. The half ended 1-1 with neither team able to finish their chances off and take full control of the match. 

It took only three minutes into the second half for Tuggeranong to find a goal, as winger Anderson made it 2-1 to the visitors. Some brilliant play going forward from Slavich and Emilio Kista led to Anderson being played through and had a cracker of the shot going in off the post. The Academy boys had to really dig in especially with striker Madaffari coming off with a hamstring injury at half time. Their persistence to find an equaliser paid off in the 59th minute thanks to their talisman Gulevski. The attacker stayed strong on the ball to beat the Tuggeranong defenders and calmly finishing to make it 2-2. 

Out of nowhere on the counter, Tuggeranong made it 3-2 two minutes later thanks to Kalfas. The striker was played through by Slavich and had his first shot saved by Brown but then netted the rebound to put his team in the lead. Academy put up a good fight in the end and almost found an equaliser late in the game but some crucial saves by United Keeper Josh Lagudah ensured the away side took the three points. 

CU Academy: 1. Sam BROWN, 4. Antoni TIMOTHEOU, 5. Niko KRESIC, 7. Joshua GULEVSKI, 8. Adrian MACOR,  11. Tomas KRKLEC, 13. Daniel SUBASIC, 14. Niko UDJUR, 15. Lachlan GRIFFITHS, 17. Tony MADAFFARI, 20. David CARDER
Substitutes used: 3. Ridwan HANNAN, 10. Daniel FABRIZIO, 18. Jonathan TUREK
Tuggeranong United: 1. Josh LAGUDAH, 2. Cameron DOHERTY, 3. Domenic COLUCCIELLO, 5. Nick FAUST, 6. Aiodan BEATMAN, 7. Nikoloas KALFAS, 8. Daniel ROBERTS, 10. Emilio KISTA, 13. Tim ANDERSON, 14. Andrew SLAVICH, 15. Liam HIGHMORE
Substitutes used: 4. Eddie COGGAN, 9. Aaron CASHMAN, 11. Marco GAYER
YELLOW CARDS: 3. Ridwan HANNAN, 7. Joshua GULEVSKI, 17. Tony MADAFFARI (CU Academy), 7. Nikoloas KALFAS (Tuggeranong United)
RED CARDS: Nil

Canberra Olympic 0 Canberra FC 1 (Domenic Giampaolo 37’)
(O’Connor Enclosed)

By William Bremner

Traditional PS4 NPL giants Canberra Olympic and Canberra FC renewed battle on a chilly afternoon at O’Connor Enclosed and it was FC that came away with a precious three points. Domenic Giampaolo proved to be the difference between the two sides as his 37th minute header was ultimately decisive. In truth the home team might be shaking their heads in disbelief that they had not taken the lead before Giampaolo's strike. Phillipe Bernabo-Madrid had the first real chance of the game after Michael Reeve had delivered a tempting low near post cross that the striker turned onto a post. Moments later he was at it again bursting past defenders and sending a low scudding shot wide of the left hand post. He then did have the ball in the net but saw his strike correctly ruled out for offside. 

Jeremy Habtemariam came closest next, as again Reeve got beyond his marker and sent in a cross that only marginally eluded the young wingers lunge. FC were not without threat of their own and both Giampaolo and Thomas James were doing enough in the front third to keep a rejigged Olympic back four on their toes. The returning Thomas Milicevic was also threatening down FC's right flank and it was his combination with Giampaolo that brought about the only goal of the game. 

Finding himself in space beyond the Olympic defence his precise cross picked out the forward who made no mistake placing a firm header into the corner of Angelo Konstantinou's net. FC were next to threaten when the pacey James cut in from the left flank and played a sharp pass to Giampaolo. His chested return picked up the continued run of James but his strike was deflected away for a corner. 

The second half saw Olympic begin with a renewed sense of purpose and they soon had FC on the back foot. Reeve was busy on the right side and Robbie Cattanach, from midfield, was spraying passes behind the FC defence with consummate precision. From set pieces Olympic also looked threatening and on two occasions almighty scrambles resulted in a desperate FC defence grateful that the ball ended in the arms of Rory Larkin in their last line. The game then swung decisively in favour of the visitors when Olympics star midfielder Tom McLachlan received his marching orders, apparently for showing dissent, when a free kick was awarded against Olympic. 

Ten man Olympic continued to press in search of an equaliser but on the counter it was FC that looked the more likely to add to the score line. A Giampaolo lob toward an unguarded net drifted just over much to the relief of Konstantinou who had rushed from his area in an attempt to thwart an FC attack. James shot tamely from distance and substitute Ned Povel was unlucky to have a goal struck off for offside. A late free kick afforded Olympic one last chance to sneak a point but the FC defence resolutely refused to buckle sending the visiting fans home happy for the first time in a while in this fixture. 

Canberra Olympic: 20. Angelo KONSTANTINOU, 2. Tim BOBOLAS, 3. Josh CALABRIA, 6. Jeremy HABTEMARIAM, 7. Pat ROSS-MAGEE, 8. Bernard RENE, 9. Phillippe BERNABO-MADRID, 10. Robbie CATTANACH, 11. Michael REEVE, 15. Tom MCLACHLAN, 23. Nathen MEGIC
Substitutes used: 13. Ben BASSER-SILK, 18. Jordan TSEKENIS, 30. Joel VALTONEN
Canberra FC: 1. Rory LARKIN, 3. Thomas MILICEVIC, 4. Marko VRKIC, 5. Izach CLEMENTS, 8. Ian GRAHAM, 9. Thomas JAMES, 10. Domenic GIAMPAOLO, 11. Ivan PAVLAK, 13. Kye EDWARDS, 18. Misko NAUMOSKI, 21. Nikola BARISIC
Substitutes used: 2. Christian PRATEZINA, 20. Ned POVEL
YELLOW CARDS: 9. Phillippe BERNABO-MADRID, 23. Nathen MEGIC (Canberra Olympic), 10. Domenic GIAMPAOLO (Canberra FC)
RED CARDS: 15. Tom MCLACHLAN (Canberra Olympic)

Tigers FC 1 (Stephen Domenici 56’ (pen)) Gungahlin United 1 (Frano Blazevic 49’)
(Nijong Oval)

A penalty from Golden Boot leader Stephen Domenici earned Tigers FC a point against Gungahlin United to keep them top of the PS4 NPL ladder after a frustrating afternoon at Nijong Oval. Domenici kept his calm from the spot after defender Nahuel Guerrero was adjudged to have been impeded in the area, prompting howls of protest from the Gunners camp who, up until that point, had been on their way to an unlikely three points.

Earlier in the match anything other than a maximum return for the Tigers appeared improbable, as the league leaders dominated proceedings in the opening forty-five minutes to such an extent that their goalkeeper, Jakob Cole, was a virtual spectator at the clubhouse end of the ground. Cole watched on though as his team was thwarted at every turn by a resolute Gungahlin defence.

On a pitch that was firm underfoot, but bobbly, it took the Tigers until midway through the half to create a meaningful opening, Daniel Barac connecting with a firm header from a corner which was directed straight at James Benivento, making his first team debut, in the Gunners goal. In reply Nathan Duck tried his luck with a super ambitious shot from 35m that sailed harmlessly off target.

Nicolas Abot was next in line for the Tigers, with his free-kick too tame before the forward was involved in the first half’s main controversy, going down under a challenge when he appeared to have his shirt tugged, but the officials, possibly unsighted, waved played on. And it was Abot who had the last opportunity of the first stanza when a slick move culminated with a precision chip that beat Benivento but drifted just over the crossbar.

After being on the back foot for most of the opening half, Gungahlin improved immeasurably as an attacking force after the interval. After Abot had an angled shot saved low by Benivento, Gungahlin began to assert themselves and took the lead in the 49th minute. Regan Walsh intercepted a wayward pass from Dejan Santrac and chipped a pass into the path of Christian Junna. Junna’s cross was perfect and Frano Blazevic, unmarked, headed low into the bet past Cole.

That prompted a furious Tigers FC response and the incident that led to Domenici equalising from the spot. Most expected the home team to kick on but it was Gungahlin who went closest when, after a penetrating run from Alex Moscaritolo, Liam Walsh was left with an open goal and seemed certain to score only for Osman Fofanah to perform a heroic goal-line clearance. 

The match became end to end after that with substitute Alex Oloriegbe creating a chance for Barac that flashed narrowly over before Justin Rankin, himself on as a replacement, cut inside his man before lashing just over the apex of post and crossbar but the match ended all-square. 

Tigers FC: 1. Jakob COLE, 2. Nahuel GUERREO, 3. Hussein FUREJE, 4. Osman FOFANAH, 5. Dejan SANTRAC, 6. Milan POPOVICH, 7. Goran JOSIFOVSKI, 8. Jeremias IBARRA, 9. Daniel BARAC, 14. Nicolas ABOT, 17. Stephen DOMENICI
Substitutes used: 10. Alex OLORIEGBE, 16. Ala MOBEDI
Gungahlin United: 1. James BENIVENTO, 2. Alex MOSCARITOLO, 3. David DEXTER, 7. Regan WALSH, 8. Christian JUNNA, 9. Nathan DUCK, 11. Jake WILSENER, 14. Liam WALSH, 15. David JENKINS, 16. Jack GREEN, 17. Frano BLAZEVIC
Substitutes used: 4. Craig ALLEN, 6. Justin RANKINE, 10. Marcial MUNOZ
YELLOW CARDS: 4. Osman FOFANAH, 9. Daniel BARAC, 17. Stephen DOMENICI (Tigers FC)
RED CARDS: Nil

TABLE

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LEADING SCORERS 
14 Stephen DOMENICI (Tigers FC)
12 Jason UGRINIC (Belconnen United), 
7 Sam SMITH (Belconnen United), Thomas JAMES (Canberra FC), John ROBERTS (FFA COE)
6 Philippe BERNABO-MADRID (Canberra Olympic), Joshua GULEVSKI (CU Academy), Nicolas ABOT (Tigers FC)
5 Aisosa IHEGIE (Belconnen United), Domenic GIAMPAOLO (Canberra FC), Jordan TSEKENIS (Canberra Olympic), Rahmat AKBARI (FFA COE), Daniel BARAC (Tigers FC)
4 Dustin WELLS (Belconnen United), Josip JADRIC (Canberra FC), Ed MCCARTHY (Monaro Panthers), Bryce BAFFORD, Jaidon SELDON (FFA COE), Nikolaos KALFAS, Andrew SLAVICH (Tuggeranong United)
3 Daniel FABRIZIO, Tomas KRKLEC, Sam WHITHEAR (CU Academy), Mitch STEENBERGEN (Gungahlin United), Darian MCGARRY-WATSON, Mark SHIELDS (Monaro Panthers), Alex OLORIEGBE, Dejan SANTRAC (Tigers FC), Marco GAYER (Tuggeranong United), Own GOALS
2 Jonathan REIS*, Toby RICHTER (Belconnen United), Nikola BARISIC (Canberra FC), Daniel COLBERTALDO, Jeremy HABTEMARIAM, Nathen MEGIC (Canberra Olympic), Louis D’ARRIGO, Jacob ITALIANO, Mirza MURATOVIC, Ben OBST, Marc TOKICH (FFA COE), Alex MOSCARITOLO (Gungahlin United), Nahuel GUERRERO (Tigers FC), Domenic COLUCCIELLO, Emilio KISTA (Tuggeranong United), Bensah AFIABO, Goran MILUTNOVIC, Matthew WATERS (Woden-Weston FC)
1 Taylor BEATON, Matt GRBESA, David KEMP, Goran MUKEVSKI, Cameron REINHART (Belconnen United), Aidan BRUNSKILL, Izach CLEMENTS, Robbie DEELEY, Ryan KEIR, Misko NAUMOSKI, Ivan PAVLAK (Canberra FC), Tim BOBOLAS, Robbie CATTANACH, Angelo KONSTANTINOU, Tom MCLACHLAN, Michael REEVE, Victor YANES (Canberra Olympic), Bul JUACH, Niko UJDUR (CU Academy), Lachlan BROOK, Mark MORIC (FFA COE), Frano BLAZEVIC, Nathan DUCK, Jack GREEN, Marcial  MUNOZ, Jason O’DWYER, Liam WALSH (Gungahlin United), Martin DENG, Daniel FELIZZI (Monaro Panthers), Tim ANDERSON (Tuggeranong United), Julian BORGNA, Osman FOFANAH, Alan GASTON, Goran JOSIFOVSKI, Milan POPOVICH (Tigers FC), Sam SHADBOLT Tuggeranong United), Daniel DI-SALVATORE, Ben GRIEG, Tom HIRST (Woden-Weston FC)

*1 goal for Tuggeranong United