Canberra Olympic 8 (Stephen Domenici 5’, 35’, 59’, 86’, Kofi Danning 20’, 28’, Seb Woods 55’, Amir Adam 57’) def. Riverina Rhinos 1 (Keith Jackson 56’)

Canberra Olympic hammered the Riverina Rhinos to jump into top spot on the NPL1 Capital Football ladder over the weekend. Stephen Domenici scored four with two in each half to help deliver an emphatic victory.

Key Moments |

The opener: Olympic started fast, and it took Domenici just five minutes to get his team on the board as he was afforded space on the edge of the area to shoot.

Danning double: Next on the scoresheet was Kofi Danning and he netted twice in the space of eight minutes to suddenly push Olympic’s lead out to three goals.

Domenici strikes: Seven minutes after Danning’s second Domenici capitalised on a poor back pass and grabbed his second a to give Olympic a four-goal lead at the break.

Pandemonium: The game truly came alive ten minutes into the second half as Seb Woods struck for the hosts, Keith Jackson scored an absolute screamer almost straight from kick-off, and then Olympic pulled further ahead again through Amir Adam and Domenici again.

That’s a wrap: The Rhinos held out for another half hour but Olympic wrapped it up for good with Domenici’s fourth four minutes from time.

Next up |

Canberra Olympic have a big, top of the table clash against Tigers at Nijong while the Rhinos face Tuggeranong United at Greenway.

 

Belconnen United 4 (Adrian Macor 25’, Jonathon Leayr 52’, Dustin Wells 72’, Max Mellick 89’) def. Monaro Panthers 0

A very young Belconnen United side showed out at home on Saturday afternoon, defending McKellar Park in a strong win against the Monaro Panthers.

Key moments |

Opening goal: A long goal-kick from Finn Jurak was chased down by Cam Reinhart and he cut the ball back into the area where a defender scuffed a clearance as far as Adrian Macor on the edge of the area. He needed no invitation and curled a wonderful strike into the top corner to get his side off the mark.

Second goal: Reinhart was again involved in the second goal, this time a long throw found Dustin Wells near the by-line and he turned and fired a low ball across goal that sat perfectly for Jonathon Leayr at the back post to finish.

Pushing the lead: Luca Macor picked up the ball inside the wing from a throw-in and chipped a great ball to Max Mellick who rose highest to head the ball down for Dustin Wells to smash home unmarked in the area.

The sealer: With time running out Belconnen launched forward on the counter, and the ball was played to Mellick who struck a great first-time effort into the corner for Belconnen’s fourth to wrap up the game.

Next up |

Monaro will look to rebound in round nine when they host Woden-Weston at Riverside on Saturday, while Belconnen will have the week off with a bye.

 

Woden-Weston 2 (Joe Lawless 19’, Alex Oloriegbe 25’) def. Tuggeranong United 0

Winless since round three, Woden-Weston grabbed a very valuable three points as they scored twice in the first half to finish 2-0 winners over Tuggeranong United.

Key moments |

First goal: Woden-Weston broke forward out of the back down the left side, and the ball came inside to Joe Lawless in a pocket. He was given too much time and space and when Tuggeranong didn’t close him down he rifled an effort at goal that Jakob Wiseman didn’t get a hold of and it spilled over the line.

Quick second: The Wanderers had a free-kick in a decent spot out on the left, and Alex Oloriegbe managed to free himself of attention and glance a header inside the near post to double the lead.

Tuggeranong had the ball in the back of the net moments after kickoff but it was ruled out for offside and from there, the Wanderers saw the rest of the game out comfortably to move into seventh spot on the table and nine points clear of last spot.

Next up |

Tuggeranong host the Rhinos at Greenway on Saturday afternoon, while Woden-Weston take on Monaro at Riverside with a chance to jump them on the table.

 

Tigers FC 1 (Mark Shields 73’) def. by Gungahlin United 3 (Michael John 52’, Jeremy Habtemariam 75’, 90+5’)

Tigers undefeated run to begin the season came to an end at home on Sunday afternoon as they were beaten 3-1 by Gungahlin United at Nijong Oval, with all four goals coming in the second half.

The second 45 was a frenetic period full of chances and action, including a red card as Jose Defelippi was given his marching orders with 20 minutes to play.

The game started at pace, and Tigers were presented with a golden chance almost immediately but Mark Shields could only head wide as he sat unmarked in the area. The cross had come from Hussain Fureje who gave Gungahlin trouble early down the left wing, but Badreldin Abbas fought his way into the contest and held his own on that side.

United meanwhile were causing problems on their own left side, with Jeremy Habtemariam too often afforded time and space to work in by the Tigers’ defenders.

While there were chances at both ends and United arguably had the ascendancy for much of the period, scores remained locked at the break in Cooma.

Misko Naumoski nearly changed that just moments into the second half as he cut inside before striking the frame of goal, but it would only take the visitors seven minutes to change the scoreline.

A poor Tigers pass going forward was picked off and Jack Green raked a long ball forwards towards Michael John who chested the ball down, brought it under control and slipped it past Jakob Cole for the opener.

Tigers seemed to be slipping out of the game and their task got harder after 70 minutes as Defilippi initially was shown a temporary dismissal, before further words ended his afternoon for good and reduced the hosts to 10 men.

But two minutes later they were back on level terms, Mark Shields receiving the ball back from Fureje in at the top of the area and smacking it home first time to set up a frantic final 20 minutes.

With 15 minutes to play Misko Naumoski played in Habtemariam who scuffed his initial effort, but the ball popped back out on the left to substitute Zac Barbatano who turned his defender and slid the ball back to Habtemariam who got a touch to put his side back in front.

As the game entered stoppage time Tigers had a dangerous free-kick and a long succession of corners up their end but were unable to capitalise, and United broke out from the back with Habtemariam eventually finishing the move to seal the result.

Tigers now face another big clash against Canberra Olympic in round nine, as do Gungahlin as they host Canberra FC at the AIS.