Gungahlin United 5 (Misko Naumoski 20’, Josh Gaspari 54’, Zac Barbatano 67’, Jack Green 70’, Michael John 79’) def. Riverina Rhinos 1 (Keith Jackson)

Gungahlin United continued their undefeated streak and condemned the Rhinos to a sixth straight loss in a dominant performance at the AIS on Saturday. One goal in the first half gave them the advantage at the break before United pulled away with four second-half goals.

Key Moments |

Early chance: Gungahlin sounded a warning shot just 12 minutes in as it looked like they would score, but Riley Angelosante thrashed his effort off the crossbar from straight in front.

First goal: They did eventually hit the lead though, Misko Naumoski getting on the end of Michael John’s cross from the right to open the scoring.

Second goal: United broke quickly on the counter and Naumoski found Jeremy Habtemariam in the inside channel. His defender did well to knock the ball away, but Habtemariam recovered to cut it back for Josh Gaspari to fire home.

Quick double: Gungahlin were rolling by this point, and they quickly pushed their lead out to four goals in a matter of minutes. Zac Barbatano grabbed the third through wonderful combination play with Habtemariam before Jack Green burst into space and was set through by Naumoski to calmly roll the fourth in.

Sealer: The Rhinos were under siege and Green turned provider for the fifth, slipping John into space to wrap their scoring.

Consolation: The Rhinos would get on the scoresheet though, a lovely ball over the top setting Keith Jackson free to fire a finish inside the near post.

Next Up |

The result moves Gungahlin onto the cusp of the top four ahead of a meeting with Tigers, while the Rhinos remain rooted to the bottom of the table before taking on Olympic.

 

Tuggeranong United 3 (Aisosa Ihegie 55’, 68’, Regan Walsh 60’) def. Belconnen United 0

Tuggeranong United scored three goals in the second half to claim a massive three points against Belconnen United at Hawker on Saturday. Aisosa Ihegie scored a brace as Mitch Steven’s side rebounded strongly from their big loss to the Panthers last weekend.

Key Moments |

The opener: A long throw from the left was nodded on by Daniel Linstead in the box and Aisosa Ihegie stuck out a leg to steer it into the net despite a touch from Finn Jurak and give Tuggeranong the lead.

Walsh wonder: Just before the hour mark Tuggeranong were awarded a free-kick not far outside the area, and Regan Walsh made the most of it, dropping it over the wall and into the bottom corner out of Jurak’s reach to give his side the lead.

The sealer: Sean Kiddey reacted first to a loose ball in midfield and chipped it forward over the Belconnen backline, and Ihegie raced onto it and appeared to swing and miss before connecting and firing the ball inside the near post for Tuggeranong’s third.

Next up |

After drawing level with them on the ladder, Tuggeranong will take on Woden-Weston next weekend at Melrose, while Belconnen have a big clash against the Panthers at McKellar Park on Saturday.

 

 

Canberra FC 1 (Ryan Keir 60’) def. Tigers FC 1 (Hussain Fureje 22’)

Tigers FC dropped points for the first time all season in a 1-1 draw with Canberra FC at Deakin on Sunday

afternoon.

Hussain Fureje struck 22 minutes in with a wonderful goal but Tigers could not push on with the scoring, and the hosts fired back in the second half through Ryan Keir to share the points.

Just moments into the eagerly anticipated clash Luka Ujdur’s side list Jordan Lamb to a hamstring injury, forcing Ujdur into an early sub and putting the hosts on the back foot. Jakob Cole was called into action early to deny Jason Ugrinic’s effort from the left but it was Cole’s side who would draw first blood.

Darren Bailey won the ball back deep in his attacking half and raced back to collect it before feeding Fureje inside, and he cut the ball onto his left foot and drove an effort over and past Sam Brown into the far corner of the goal to put Tigers into an early lead.

Ugrinic had another go at goal only to be denied easily by Cole once more, and the half petered out with the home side enjoying the lion’s share of possession but arriving at the break with little to show for it.

Nico Abot looked ready to take the best early chance of the second half only to leave the ball behind under pressure from Mat Grbesa, but the ball fell anyway to Dimi Parascos who couldn’t properly get behind the ball and saw his effort saved easily by Sam Brown.

Fouls started to pile up for both side’s and when Canberra FC were awarded a free-kick out on the left edge ahead of the hour mark, it spelt trouble for the visitors.

Bailey could only head the delivery as far as the edge of the area where Ian Graham swung a leg at it, and the ball eventually looped off a defender towards the goal where Keir was waiting to nod it home past a stranded Cole and pull his side level.

Five minutes later the hosts thought they had gone ahead as Ugrinic thundered an effort off the underside of the crossbar, but play on was waved as Ugrinic and his teammates appealed for a goal and Tigers eventually escaped.

There were chances at both ends as time wound down but both Brown and Cole reigned supreme at the back to help their sides to a point to wrap up round seven.

 

Canberra Olympic 2 (Nathen Megic 39’, Amir Adam78’) def. Woden-Weston 1 (Michael Adams 65’)

A late strike from Amir Adam helped Canberra Olympic to a second straight win at O’Connor as they saw off Woden-Weston.

Key moments |

Early chance: Woden-Weston broke clear out of the back and charged forward only to be brought down on the edge of the area, and while the resulting free-kick was spilled by Rory Larkin, Olympic did enough to clear the early danger.

Opening goal: Stephen Domenici took receipt of the ball with his back to goal and seemingly not presenting too much of a danger, but he simply laid the ball off to an unmarked Nathen Megic who drove a curving strike inside the near post to put his side ahead at half-time.

Equaliser: Putting pressure on the Olympic backline with build-up play, Michael Adams was sent scurrying through behind the defence with a neat through ball and he finished well at pace to bring his side level with 25 minutes to play.

The winner: A long ball is thumped into the box from a set piece and Megic rose highest to head it back across goal and Amir Adam was first to react, diving forward to head it in and give his side all three points.

Next up |

Canberra Olympic welcome the Rhinos to Canberra as they still search for their first points of the campaign, while Woden-Weston seek to break a winless streak as they take on Tuggeranong.