Article: Lachlan Roberts 
Photo: Anthony Caffery Photography

Canberra Olympic 1 (Popovich 40') defeated by Tigers FC 4 (Shields 30’, 64’ (p), Oloriegbe 33’, Whithear 69’)

The Tigers have bared their claws with a 4-1 demolition of Canberra Olympic at O'Connor Enclosed, which leaves Olympic's season on a knife's edge. Both teams headed into the match tied on six points, desperate to solidify their position in the top four. It was the Tigers who made the better start, led by their main man Mark Shields. Just as Olympic seemed to be building a threatening attack, they turned the ball over and were punished.  A simple clearance from the Tigers backline found Shields in behind, who calmly slotted past Rory Larkin to give the away side the lead in the 30th minute. Just minutes later, they doubled their lead through Alex Oloriegbe, whose shot slipped through Larkin's hands. Olympic responded before the break as a long ball from Jay Kelly caused confusion, as the ball ricocheted off Laurence Redmond's back and fell kindly to Nik Popovic, who finished past Jakob Cole. The Tigers restored their two-goal advantage from the penalty spot, after Nicholas Faust was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. Five minutes later, Sam Whithear put the game to bed with a weaving run through Olympic's defence, finishing cooly with his right foot. The result means that Olympic will have to win their two remaining matches to have any chance of making the top-four, while wins against Woden Weston and Belconnen United will ensure Tigers of a spot in the top-four. 

Belconnen United 4 (Danning 6’, Michl 67’, L. Macor 86’, 87’) defeated Monaro Panthers 0

Belconnen United have ended Monaro Panthers' hopes of a top-four finish, with a resounding 4-0 win at Riverside Football Stadium. In his 50th Capital Football NPL appearance, Kofi Danning opened the scoring for the Blue Devils as the Panthers struggled to clear a corner. Evan Alexandrow-Ridley's punch found Dustin Wells in the box, whose right-foot shot fell to Danning who did the rest. The Panthers had moments of beautiful ticka-tacka football in the middle of the park but let themselves down in the final third. Danning was inspired in his milestone match and was influential in Belconnen's second goal of the afternoon. His great through-ball found Leon Michl with space down the right-wing, who found the bottom corner past Alexandrow-Ridley for his first NPL1 goal. A quickfire double from Luca Macor sealed the result, his first coming from another assist from Danning before his stunning strike from outside the box bounced in off the crossbar. 

Woden-Weston 1 (McEwan 17’) defeated by Canberra Croatia FC 4 (Ugrinic 11’, Vrkic 21’, Ujdur 50’, Colbertaldo 65’)

Woden Weston ended their 441-minute wait for an NPL1 goal but it wasn't enough, as Canberra Croatia left Melrose Synthetic with a 4-1 win. A matchup between an undefeated side and a side still looking for their first goal of the season might have seemed like a foregone conclusion but Canberra Croatia was made to work for the three points. Jason Ugrinic opened the scoring in the 11th minute after the ball pinged around the box as the Wanderers struggled to clear. The ball eventually fell to Ugrinic who calmly slotted past the keeper to give his side an early lead. Parity was restored six minutes later through the unlikely goalscorer Chris McEwan. The defender's strike from outside the box beat Sam Brown and gave the Wanderers a glimmer of hope. But Croatia snuffed that out four minutes later as Marko Vrkic, whose acrobatic volley went in off the post. Canberra Croatia extended their lead in the second half through the impressive Nikola Ujdur, catching the Wanderers out with a short corner. Daniel Colbertaldo's 65th-minute strike ended the Wanderers' hopes of a comeback, winning the ball in midfield before an unerring finish on his left foot. 

Tuggeranong United 2 (Peterkin 37’, Gayer 78’) defeated Gungahlin United 1 (Barbatano 42’)

Tuggeranong United caused the upset of the NPL1 season, toppling Gungahlin United 2-1 at Hawker Football Centre on Sunday night (16 August). Marcial Munoz made seven changes to the side that beat Tigers FC midweek, as he chose to rest some of his star talent. Gungahlin had the best chance to open the scoring in the 12th minute but was thwarted by a sensational double-save from Jakeb Wiseman. The goalkeeper was quickly off his line to stop from Michael John before the follow-up shot from Tom Mclachlan inside the centre circle looked destined to find the back of the net but a backpedaling Wiseman clawed it off the line. Down the other end, Marco Gayer's shot was tipped onto the post by Gabriel Osinga but the young keeper could do nothing to stop Euan Peterkin from scoring the opener in the 37th minute. Gayer's attempted bicycle kick helped the ball fall to Peterkin in the box, who calmly cut back inside on this right foot and found the back of the net. Much to the displeasure of Mitch Stevens, his side fell asleep in the shadows of half time, allowing Zach Barbatano space in the box which he took advantage of. The match turned on its head in the 65th minute, as the referee sent Ross Costanzo for bringing down Gayer as he broke in behind. 12 minutes before half time, Gayer was in the thick of the action again, winning the ball off Josh Gulevski before beating Osinga at his near post. The result ends Gungahlin's winning streak and puts Tuggeranong in fight spot, two outside the top four.