By Caleb Mitchell

Canberra FC 7 (Daniel Subasic 13’, Thomas James 20’, 55’, 79’, Kofi Danning 77’, Ryan Keir 86’, 89’)def. Tigers FC 2 (Nicolas Villafane 11’, 38’)

Canberra FC jumped to the top of the NPL Capital Football table with a sizzling 7-2 win over Tigers FC courtesy of five second-half goals.

The contest was even through the first half, but a straight red card too Tigers’ Osman Fofanah just minutes into the second half proved to be an important turning point.

The match began at a quick pace, and within 30 seconds the hosts were almost behind, but a heroic sliding clearance from Daniel Subasic on the goal line helped retain parity.

Ten minutes later though the Tigers threatening play helped them into an early as Nicolas Villafane got on the end of an Alex Oleriegbe cross to put his side ahead after 11 minutes. 

Canberra FC hit back within minutes though, as Subasic finished cleanly from a good ball to equalise in the 13^th minute.

The hosts found themselves in front as Thomas James raced onto a pass from Kofi Danning to tuck home his fifth goal of the season and give Canberra FC a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.

Tigers continued to push though, and Madaffari came close just after the half hour mark, but the equaliser came just seven minutes from the break through Villafane once more.

The dynamic midfielder whipped in a free-kick from out near the sideline that Jordan Thurtell appeared to misjudge and took over the line as Tigers equalised.

Kofi Danning had the chance to put his side ahead once more on the stroke of the break, but his header went high and the two teams remained locked at half-time.

The turning point of the match came just four minutes into the second half, as Fofanah came in dangerously at Ian Graham and was shown a straight red card for the challenge, reducing Tigers to ten men.

Canberra FC looked to take full advantage and grabbed the lead just seven minutes later, as another great cross from Danning found James for his second to make it 3-2 after 56 minutes.

Graham and Danning came close with efforts of their own as the match headed into the final 30 minutes, but it was the latter who found himself a goal with 13 minutes to play as he fired home from a cross.

James all but sealed the win two minutes later as he completed his hattrick, but there was still time for two more as Ryan Keir grabbed a brace in the dying stages of the game to round out the score at 7-2.

Tigers now face a tough trip to Riverina in round seven as they look to bounce back from a heavy defeat, while Canberra FC will face Belconnen United in a big Saturday night clash at McKellar Park.