Canberra FC v Monaro Panthers | Sunday, 3pm @ Deakin Stadium

Canberra FC will return to league action this week after a whirlwind two weeks that has seen them win through to the FFA Cup Round of 32 and learn their opponent in the national round. Paul Macor’s side are two points behind Canberra Olympic in first but with a game in hand, and have two games on third placed Tuggeranong United. Jeremy Habtemariam is now eligible to make his league debut for his new side and adds further depth to the squad ahead of what can turn into a busy period. Their two matches before the break saw them drop points in a draw for the first time and then suffer their first loss of the season against Olympic, but Macor is still happy with the position his team sits in. He will be without one or two players this weekend due to injury and travel but the hosts should still go in as favourites.

For Monaro the past week was something of a mixed bag; they were thumped 5-0 by a dominant Olympic side last weekend but were pushed back onto the cusp of the top four race during the week as the result of their round three loss to the Rhinos was overturned for a PPS infraction. That pushed them up to seven points and they are now only two points behind Belconnen United and within touching distance of Belconnen United. Before the loss to Olympic they had the bye and losses to Gungahlin and Tuggeranong United, and need to break their points drought. The three from Riverina certainly helped and they will travel to face them next weekend, but they need to begin competing for points against teams higher up the ladder if they are to be an outside chance at the four.

 

Tuggeranong United v Belconnen United | Sunday, 3pm @ Greenway

Tuggeranong United can look to complete a season double over Belconnen United when they host them at Greenway on Sunday afternoon. Tuggeranong fell to Tigers last weekend as they had the chance to go top, and Mitch Stevens will be looking for his side to rebound quickly and keep in touch with Canberra Olympic and Canberra FC. Aisosa Ihegie was on the scoresheet once more in a positive for the visitors, but the shipping of three goals is more of a concern with the backline being an area of inconsistency for Stevens’ men so far this year. This weekend and next see Tuggeranong take on sides in the chasing pack, and they need to be mindful of allowing them to close the gap. A clash against Olympic follows that and it is important that United are within striking distance come that round.

For Belconnen they struck late last week to steal a share of the points against Woden, but were unconvincing for the first half of the outing. They cannot afford to be slow off the mark here against a side that beat them at home earlier this season and must gain points to maintain parity with those around them. A clash with Canberra Olympic looms next weekend before the bye one week later, and as the race for the four hots up every point dropped seems more valuable. To their credit once they found their rhythm last week they appeared far more dangerous, and if they can get into that swing early then they will pose problems for the home backline. With a goal difference currently sitting at -8 though the Blue Devils need to couple a good attacking showing with a stingy outing across the backline.

 

Gungahlin United v Tigers FC | Sunday, 3pm @ GEO and LIVE on BarTV Sports

An important clash in the context of fourth spot looms on Sunday as Gungahlin United host Tigers FC at Gungahlin Enclosed.

United’s shock loss to the Rhinos last weekend helped the chasing pack close the gap on them and they take on one of their key rivals for the spot in Tiger in this match. This will be the first time these two have met in the league this season with their earlier clash still set to be rescheduled and comes with both sides looking to hit form for the final part of the season. Marcial Munoz said after the loss last weekend that his side need to find more goals after missing a number of opportunities, and they will have a chance to do that against the side who have conceded the most goals of any team in the top six. United have scored only 13 goals all season though, so it is high time they found their scoring boots ahead of a testing run of fixtures.

For Tigers, a 3-1 victory over Tuggeranong United hoisted them right back into the battle for fourth and they can jump this week’s opponents into the last finals spot with a victory. Nicolas Villafane was once more instrumental in the victory at home last Sunday as Tigers brought up a second consecutive win, and Mark Shields scored twice after netting the stoppage time winner two weeks earlier. If Shields can be a geunine threat up front to help with the goal output then Tigers will be looking very dangerous on the attack heading through the back half of the season. Keeping goals out at the other end has proved problematic for Gaby Wilk’s side though, conceding 23 times in their nine matches so far. If they can plug the gaps at the back this weekend against the stuttering United attack then it will go a long way to helping them to the points.

 

Canberra Olympic v Woden-Weston | Sunday, 3pm @ O’Connor

Canberra Olympic can build on a thumping 5-0 win last weekend when they host Woden-Weston at O’Connor on Sunday afternoon. The last time these two met Olympic pulled out a courageous 3-2 win at Woden Park despite a number of injuries and come into this meeting with momentum. A 1-0 loss to Gungahlin a bit over a week ago threatened to stymie Frank Cachia’s side but they have shown no signs of letting up and now sit in first spot on the table. The return to Canberra of Stephen Domenici has boosted them as well, and he got on the scoresheet last week to prove that he will be a danger through the back half of the season. A double to Domenic Giampaolo was important as well and will boost his confidence as Olympic battle at the pointy end of the table. Cachia’s side will need to be at their best here against a Wanderers side who have proven that they can be a threat.

Woden-Weston showed how dangerous they can be last week on the counter but failed to finish chances, and they’re now firmly embedded in the dog fight for finals but need to get back on the winners list soon. Every point counts at this stage of the season and they arguably dropped two rather than gaining one after leading for the majority of the match last week. Olaide Yinka-Kehinde again proved his worth with a starring role and a well-taken goal but missing six or seven first-graders was tough for Rey Castro to overcome. He will hope that he has more to choose from this week for an important game, and that they can put in a strong shift. In the 3-2 loss earlier in the season Castro’s men were on top for large parts of it, and need to begin making chances count.