Monaro Panthers 3 (Sam Smith 21’, Adam Neou 41’, Ole Stegavik 51’) def. by Tuggeranong United 4 (Shane Murray 68’, Aisosa Ihegie 89’, Andrew Slavich 83’)

A remarkable second half comeback from Tuggeranong helped them steal a 4-3 win over the Monaro Panthers on Sunday afternoon in Googong.

After finding their scoring boots the week before against Woden-Weston the week before, the Panthers began on the front foot and took advantage of Ed McCarthy winning possession to open the scoring. McCarthy cut across the top of the area and slid a pass to Sam Smith, who rifled an effort across Tom Barton and into the bottom left corner to give his side the lead 21 minutes in.

United looked to work their way back into the game and Mate Barisic came close nine minutes from the break but his effort flew just wide, and the Panthers pounced just before the break to double their lead.

A high-foot from Shane Murray against Burak Kocak was penalised as time wound down, and Adam Neou’s driven effort from the free-kick flew straight past Barton and into the far corner to push the lead to 2-0 four minutes before the break. 

The Panthers nearly scored a third as Sam Smith squandered a golden opportunity to score off Kocak’s cross in the final minute, leaving the score 2-0 in favour of the home side at half time. 

The visitors came out of the break with a fire underneath them and Aisosa Ihegie was making inroads early, but six minutes in the Panthers broke up an attacking move and swiftly got out on the counter. A bursting run up the wing, and a good cross found Ole Stegavik to tap home and leave Monaro joyous up by three goals with just under 40 minutes to play. 

Mitchell Jervis-Hamilton snatched at a chance after Sam Smith’s effort was blocked from outside the area and pushed it wide, and 10 minutes later the game would hit a major turning point in the Monaro 18-yard area. McCarthy was given his marching orders as the ball appeared to strike his arm on the goal line and Tuggeranong were awarded a penalty which Shane Murray dispatched confidently to reduce the arrears. 

Ihegie raced through towards goal with 15 minutes to play only for Mitch Weeden to rush out and challenge on the edge of the area, but the keeper was unable to clear entirely and Ihegie was able to slide the ball home to cut the lead once more.

There was unease around Googong which only heightened six minutes later when a defensive header fell to United’s Andrew Slavich on the edge of the area for him to smash home into the back of the net and tie the game.

And with time running out it was Ihegie who brought down Murray’s long ball on the baseline, beat his defender and tucked the ball in from a tight angle to give United an improbable 4-3 win.

The win moves Tuggeranong United level on points with Olympic on second place while Monaro remain in eighth, and the two sides are set to meet in FFA Cup action this week.