NPLW Round 8 Wrap
Monaro Panthers 0 def. by Belconnen United 4 (Catherine Brown 24’, Leah Carnegie 26’, Keira Bobbin 48’, Nicole Jalocha 68’)
Gungahlin United 2 (Elke Aitolu 17’, Freyja Jacobsen 65’) def. Canberra United Academy 1 (Hayley Taylor-Young 46’)
By Jakob Gisik
Gungahlin United have proven they are title contenders in 2019 with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Canberra United Academy at GEO on Sunday afternoon.
Gungahlin were without star players Alex Paterson and Nat De Marco, but a goal apiece for Elke Aitolu and Freyja Jacobsen were enough to secure victory for the hosts, their fifth straight in the league.
It was the Academy that started the better of the two sides, as Isabel Mulhall forced Gungahlin goalkeeper Kailey Tonini to make a difficult save just three minutes in.
But the home side responded with a chance of their own shortly after, when a strike from Jacobsen from outside the penalty area flew just over the crossbar.
The Academy came close to scoring again in the 13th minute; a lovely ball from Sasha Grove found Hayley Taylor-Young inside the area, but the latter’s quick shot was denied by the woodwork.
Gungahlin broke the deadlock four minutes later when Stella De Marco stole the ball from Mia McGovern and laid it into the path of Aitolu, who hit a left-footed strike past Alex Hinson in goals
The remainder of the first-half was dominated by the Academy, although they were unable to find an equaliser as Gungahlin’s backline held firm against the likes of Taylor-Young and Grove.
But it took just one second-half minute for Taylor-Young to level the scores, as she tapped in from close-range following a neat back heel pass from Charli Mitchell.
As the half wore on, it looked increasingly as though Gungahlin would need something special in order to break down the Academy’s backline.
Well that ‘special’ moment came in the 65th minute, when Jacobsen found the top-corner of the net with a stunning free-kick from 30 yards out.
That put the home side ahead 2-1, despite the fact they’d conceded possession and territory for much of the match.
They nearly doubled their lead 12 minutes later when Erika Pennyfield snuck in behind the Academy defence and sent a shot towards goal, only to see it ricochet off the right-post.
Mulhall had a glorious chance to bring the Academy level as the match entered stoppage time, but her one-time shot flew just wide of the Gungahlin goal.
The referee blew time almost immediately after, leaving the Academy to rue their last-second missed opportunity.
They’ll be hoping to bounce back when they host Belconnen United on Saturday, while Gungahlin will be chasing their sixth straight win when they play Canberra FC on Sunday.
Tuggeranong United 2 (Kristy Helmers 38’, Sophie Bui 45’) def. Canberra Olympic 0
Woden-Weston 4 (Cassia McGlashan 68’, 78’, Sofia Christopherson 85’) def. Wagga City Wanderers 2 (Rachel Lyon 62’, 69’)
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