Luca Florez helps Belconnen United grab all three points
By Jeremy Magan
Canberra Olympic FC 1 (Seb Woods 79’) def. by Belconnen FC 2 (Kofi Danning 65’, Luca Florez 86’)
A goal and an assist by Belconnen United's young gun Luca Florez grabbed all three points against Canberra Olympic in the opening match of the 2020 NPL1 season.
Football returned in the nation's capital on Saturday afternoon (18 July), as title contenders Canberra Olympic and Belconnen United met at O’Connor Enclosed.
Both teams took their time to settle into the match before the game sprung to life in the 26th minute. United's new recruit Kofi Danning was brought down in the box by goalkeeper Rory Larkins after the striker took advantage of a ball the Olympic defense struggled to clear.
Inexplicably, Dustin Wells blazed over from the spot, which seemed to provide the spark the game needed.
Both sides had chances to score the first goal of the 2020 NPL season, but strikes from Nik Popovich, Luca Florez and Stephen Domenici failed to find the back of the net.
In the 65th minute, it was Danning who broke the deadlock for Belconnen, cushioning a sublime Florez lobed pass on his chest before rifling the ball into the top corner past a helpless Larkins.
Robbie Cattanach’s side needed 15 minutes to level the game, when Daniel Sparrow’s superb through ball reached Seb Woods, calmly beat Jordan Thurtell to score his 3rd career goal in the NPL1.
The visitors never gave up and with under five minutes to play, Danning pushed the ball the Florez who scored the second goal for Belconnen United.
United coach Paul Macor was ecstatic with the result, especially with the performance of his star 17-year-old.
"The game was a great spectacle and it could have gone either way" he said. “I am also very pleased for Luca. It’s great to see the young guys coming through Belconnen given a chance.
"Not one player let their guard down. I thought our three substitutes that came on did their job and every player gave 100 percent."
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