Belconnen United 1 (Daniel Fabrizio 54’) def. by Canberra Olympic 2 (Stephen Domenici 79’, 86’)

By Matt Nicoletti

Canberra Olympic’s undefeated run in the PS4 NPL Capital Football continued on Saturday night, as a brace from Stephen Domenici helped complete a come-from behind win over Belconnen United.

The match started as a physical encounter and Zac Maybury, Dustin Wells and Nathan Megic were all booked within the space of a few minutes early on in the half. United’s Taylor Beaton also picked up a yellow as the pace of the game lifted, but both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances on a fresh night at McKellar Park.

Angelo Konstantinou saved well from Daniel Fabrizio’s strong effort to keep scores level, and the sides went into half-time goalless. Nine minutes after the break though the undermanned hosts went ahead, as Konstantinou could only parry Jason Ugrinic’s drive into the path of Fabrizio to fire home and take the lead. 

Sam Smith had the next great chance of the match, but was unable to extend the host’s advantage as he smacked the ball over the bar and out. Olympic tried to force their way back into the game but Finn Jurak was initially up to the task as he made a couple of good saves to keep the visitors at bay in the second half.

But Olympic’s attacking pressure continued to build, and when Domenici went scurrying in behind the defence, Jurak’s crude challenge missed the ball and brought the forward down, resulting in a spot-kick. 

Domenici brushed himself off before burying the penalty in the corner, and with ten minutes to go scores were level again. And shortly after Domenici gave his side the lead with a brilliant strike.

Finding space in the box with the loose ball, Domenici pivoted and hit the ball brilliantly, curling it around the outstretched arm of Jurak to nestle just inside the left upright.

United tried in vain to hit back and level the game in the dying minutes but were unable to land a telling blow. The Blue Devils now sit level on points in fourth with Gungahlin United, while Olympic pushed their lead over the Centre of Excellence to six points ahead of a meeting with them next Sunday.