Photo: Alistair Nitz 

Belconnen United 1 (L. Macor 69’) defeated by Tigers FC 2 (Kita 61’, Oloriegbe 75’)

An injury-ravaged Tigers FC are 90 minutes away from a spot in the 2020 NPL1 Grand Final after a stunning 2-1 win over Belconnen United at Deakin Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Goalless in their last three matches, couple with a suspended Julan Borgna and injured Jared Tonini and Roko Strika, the Tigers' backs were against the wall coming into their second match of the 2020 NPL1 Championship Series. The match got off to the worst possible start for the Cooma-based side as Nathen Megic hobbled off with an ankle injury in just the 14th minute. The first 45-minutes was a dour affair as both sides struggled to create decent chances. Sam Whithear had the Tigers' best chance in the 32nd minute while a header from Luca Florez failed to trouble Jakob Cole down the other end.

On the hour mark, the game sprung into life as Philippe Borgeaud was robbed of possession by Michael Kita, who smartly passed the ball into the back of the net past Jordan Thurtell. The Tigers lead only lasted eight minutes as a great Belconnen United team move was rounded off with a finish from Luca Macor. United's three youngsters Michl, Florez and Macor were all involved in a move that sliced the Tigers defence wide open, as Belconnen surged for a winner. But a mistake from Thurtell from a Goran Josifovski's corner restored the Tigers lead, as he spilled the ball right onto the head of Alex Oloriegbe, mere moments after the winger came onto the pitch. Belconnen threw everything at the Tigers' defence as they searched for a point but Ryan Grogan's men stood firmed and pushed into prime position for a place in the Grand Final on the 26 September.

Canberra Croatia 5 (Barac 5’, 54’. Ujdur 8’, Ugrinic 24’, 34’) defeated Gungahlin United 0

Canberra Croatia has booked their spot in the 2020 NPL1 Grand Final with a resounding 5-0 win over a helpless Gungahlin United. The tone was set inside the first minute, as Niko Ujdur's shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Joshua Lagudah. The home side was not to be denied and they took the lead in the fifth minute as Daniel Barac's right-foot shot from the edge of the box found the bottom corner, after a great through ball from Daniel Colbertaldo cut open the heart of Gungahlin's defence. Three minutes later, Barac was denied his second goal of the afternoon by the post but Ujdur was there to tap the ball into an empty net. Any hopes that Gungahlin had of a comeback was snuffed in the 24th minute, as Jason Ugrinic scored his second goal in as many games. Less than ten minutes later, Ugrinic was back on the scoresheet, stealing the ball off Jeremy Habtemariam before finishing into the bottom the corner.

The onslaught continued in the second half as Lagudah thwarted chance after chance from the red tsunami, but he could do nothing to stop Croatia's fifth. Lachlan Griffiths' attempted header back to Lagudah only found Barac, who lobbed the onrushing keeper to make it 5-0 in the 53d minute. Barac had two guilt-edged opportunities to score his hat-trick but a terrific save from Lagudah and an incredible block on the line from Jeremy Habtemariam kept the score to 5-0. The win ensures that Canberra Croatia will play in the Grand Final on the 26 September while United's hopes for back-to-back Grand Finals hang on by a thread, as Marcial Munoz's side now need a strong win against Tigers next weekend.

Woden Weston 2 (Vlazlovski 5’, 58’) defeated Monaro Panthers 1 (Neou 29’)

Woden Weston is now unbeaten in their last four matches, as a double from Blaise Vlazlovski led them to a 2-1 win over Monaro Panthers at Riverside Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The match began with a somber minute of silence, with the news that Panthers keeper Evan Alexandrow-Ridley's father passed away midweek. The Wanderers got off to the perfect start inside the opening five minutes as Vlazlovski drove the ball into the bottom corner after a great layoff by Mate Barisic. Panthers responded quickly and for the fourth time in two weeks were denied by the woodwork, as Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu's attempt crashed into Willem Lejeune's crossbar. Monaro would not be denied however and in the 29th minute restored parity. A delicious through ball from Ahmed-Shaibu found Adam Neou, who controlled his left-foot shot onto the inside of the post for his second goal in as many weeks. The Panther's American striker was in every attacking move and had a chance to score a goal of his own but was denied by a brilliant diving save from Lejeune.

There was plenty of feeling in the contest as a myriad of free-kicks were awarded in the early stages of the second half as both teams flew into their tackles. The Wanderers restored their lead through a Nikolas Barisic free-kick, as his low cross into the box found Vlazlovski, who guided the ball past a helpless Alexandrow-Ridley. The Panthers threw everything at the Wanderers' defence in search of an equaliser but they held firmly onto their lead, claiming their second win of the season.

Tuggeranong United 1 (Slavich 81’) defeated by Canberra Olympic 2 (Kelly 40’, Turek 48’ (og))

An unfortunate own goal by Jono Turek consigned Tuggeranong United to their second loss of the 2020 NPL1 Championship Series, succumbing to a youthful Canberra Olympic 2-1 at Riverside Football Stadium. United's Harry Truman had a golden opportunity to put his side ahead in just the sixth minute, but his left foot strike was fired straight at the keeper. Tuggeranong were lackadaisical in defence as they turned the ball over time and time again inside the opening 20 minutes, but Olympic failed to punish United's mistakes. Olympic did take the lead minutes before half time, as Jay Kelly pounced on a loose piece of defending by Euan Peterkin, cutting back inside before finishing past the keeper. 

Tuggeranong began the second half brightly but Olympic extended their lead from a free-kick. Kelly's shot bounced off the wall straight to Turek, who unwittingly poked the ball into his own net. United pressed for a way back into the game, dominating periods of possession as Olympic absorbed the pressure. Tuggeranong did find a way back into the game, as Sean Kiddey's long throw found Andrew Slavich, who bundled the ball past James Christis. Tuggeranong had a great chance to snatch a point in the 95th minute, but Eddie Coggan was denied by the foot off Christis before the keeper once again denied Slavich at his near post. The result dashes United's hopes of progressing to the Play Off while Olympic sit on four points alongside Woden Weston.