Belconnen United FC 1 (Bomford 76’) def by Canberra Croatia FC 3 (Palombi 5’, Gill 30’, Fogarty 80‘)

The duel between the two only undefeated teams this season ended in a Canberra Croatia win. In a rematch of last year’s Grand Final and this season’s Charity Shield, the Deakin side reminded Belconnen why they were the reigning champs with a dominating performance at McKellar.

It could not have started better for the visitors, when 5 minutes in, Grace Gill found Brittany Palombi in the back of the defence in the box. This season leading goal scorer did not hesitate when facing Cristina Esposito and adjusted the goalkeeper with her right foot to bring her tally to 8 realisations in 2021. The crucial midfield battle was favouring Canberra Croatia, with Krista Hagen, Jenny Bisset and Jamie Berkeley doing an excellent job of pressing high and preventing Michaela Thornton, Olivia Bomford and Katie Woodman from developing their football. The Blue Devils would be dangerous on set pieces as usual, but never managed to head or volley the ball on target. On the other end, Esposito had to stay alert with Palombi and Olivia Fogarty bringing danger from the wings but could not do anything when the former combined with Grace Gill in the box. After a ball recovered high by Bisset, Gill ran in the box, and after a one-two with Palombi, just had to tap the ball in for the second Canberra Croatia goal. The visitors controlled the rest of the first half, restricting Belconnen to only a couple of opportunities.

They were dangerous in the second half too, with Hagen launching Berkeley in the box but the midfield shot went straight at Esposito. A minute later, Gill’s skilful footwork allowed them to face Esposito on a narrow angle, but again the keeper was lucky to see the ball coming right in her gloves.

The Blue Devils would again resort to set pieces to bring the danger around Ally Hinson, without much success, despite Deakin defending poorly on most corner kicks. What became a cagey second half was finally boosted with 15 minutes left, when Bomford gave some hope back to the home team. In the middle of the pitch, she inherited a loose ball, eliminated her opponent with an aerial control, and took a chance with her left foot from the edge of the box. Her strike found the bottom right corner to make it 2-1.

Belconnen tried to ride on that wave and push for the equaliser but unfortunately for the Blue Devils, Hagen’s 80^th minute corner kick was fumbled by a usually excellent Esposito.Fogarty, all alone, appreciated the offering by scoring her team’s 3^rd on the day and her personal 4^th this season.

Nik Brozinic and his team made a statement over the weekend, smothering the Blue Devils and showcasing all their talent and experience. Both teams play again this weekend, on Wednesday night in the Federation Cup semi-finals. For Michael Zakoski and Belconnen United, the game at McKellar was full or teachings, and they will need to show another face, if not this week, at least if/when they meet Canberra Croatia again in the post-season.

West Canberra Wanderers FC 6 (McKenzie 35’, Maguire 39’, Chaverra Calle 47’, Stanbury 49’, Leten 51’, Edwards 82’)beat Tuggeranong United FC 0

Two in a row for Emma Stanbury and her Wanderers! West Canberra took no prisoners in the Derby of the South, scoring 5 goals in the space of 15 minutes.

Tuggeranong United first offered good resistance, with their now signature dense and combative defence, and the game was a cagey one for the first half hour. The Tuggies unfortunately still struggled in the build-up and rarely were able to string 3 passes together, let alone in their opponents’ half.

The Wanderers waited patiently for their opportunity, and it came at the 35^th minute with a skilful run by Alex McKenzie. Found in the back of the defence by Stanbury, she outpaced her opponent to face Sophie Rolfe 1 on 1. The Tuggeranong defence, passive for once, anticipated the cut back pass, but McKenzie decided to dribble Rolfe on her own to get a first goal of the season. Rhiannon Daisley was to respond straight away, but her shot from long range, headed to the top right corner, was beaten away by Janet King. The Wanderers would make the score comfortable before going back to the locker room, with Briana Maguire, fighting to get the ball back between two defenders, who was there again to tap the ball in after McKenzie’s shot was deflected by Rolfe.

The Wanderers came out all guns blazing in the second half with the firm intent to kill the game early on. A perfect free kick by Tiana Jaber, found Ana Sofia Chaverra Calle between defenders and the keeper, and allowed her to score her third goal in as many games within 90 seconds. On the very next attack, Rolfe was forced to use her hands to stay in control of a back pass by Lara Mustaine, therefore conceding an indirect free kick 7 meters from her line. McKenzie just touched the ball and let her player/coach fire it in the bottom right corner, the first goal for Emma Stanbury this season.

The Wanderers would not stop there: another beautiful cross by Jaber found Leten at the far post. The winger’s header left Rolfe helpless. In 5 minutes, all hopes were over for the Tuggies. The visitors hardly brought any danger on King’s area in the second half, but kept at it defensively to prevent a worse score line. Stanbury’s players kept pushing, and were rewarded late in the game one last time. A long kick by King (who got an assist on that one), bounced in the Tuggies box, and Liz Edwards protected the ball until she was in the right position to adjust Rolfe and find the net.

Tuggeranong is yet to score their first point in 2021. The team that has impressed defensively is now in crucial need of some creativity upfront. West Canberra showed their place on the table by dominating both Wagga City and Tuggeranong after a tough first 4 games. This week will be a real test, with 2 games against Gungahlin: at home on Tuesday night for the Federation Cup semi-final, and at the Gungahlin Enclosed Oval on Sunday afternoon.

Wagga City Wanderers FC 0 def by Canberra Olympic FC 6(Sykes 11’, 21’, 24’, 56’, Bennett 67’, Cook 69’ sp)

Canberra Olympic finally got a taste of victory again after 3 straight losses on Sunday in the Riverina. Ashleigh Sykes’ 4 goals in an hour were too much for the Wanderers to hope for a better result.

The game started on a high rhythm, with both teams keen to play direct football. After a couple of alerts through their wingers, the Olympic midfield finally found Ash Sykes in the back of Wagga City’s defence. The Julie Dolan winner outpaced everyone, faced and dribbled Samantha Emms and scored her first of the day.

The Wanderers had trouble getting through a very dense blue midfield, and unfortunately were not quick enough to defend on Sykes whenever she would be around the ball. At the end of one of her runs on the right wing, she found Rachael Hardwicke in the middle of the box. The former Panther’s shot was saved by Emms but released a couple of metre away, and Sykes was the most prompt to get the ball, scoring her second. 3 minutes later, the two forwards combined again, and Sykes went from a run from her own half to face Emms on her own and smash the ball under the crossbar.

Hardwicke could have made it 4-0 soon after, but she could only find the outside of the side net at the end of a cross from Taniah Miro, and also missed an easy goal after a cut back pass by Sykes. She had another attempt from long range, but this time Emms beat it away. Miro would also be denied twice by Emms, the young keeper from the Riverina showing week in week out how strong she is on her line.

By the time the referee sent the 2 teams to the locker room, the Wanderers could feel lucky they had only conceded 3 times. Their best opportunity, like a symbol of that first half, was a shot by Megan Castle, who hit the back of the legs of her own teammate when it could have been a dangerous strike for Aurelia Haynes.

The second half was the same one sided matchup, with a Wanderers’ team spending too much energy chasing the ball rather than keeping possession. Yet another ball behind the defence found Ash Sykes at the 55^th minute, and the striker easily sneaked her 7^th of the season between Emms’ legs. She tried to offer a goal to Hardwicke instead of going for her 5^th a minute later, but Olympic’s number 9 sliced it over the crossbar.

Anna Bennett would succeed at the 67^th minute, at the end of another run through Wagga’s defence. A minute later, Sykes series of dribble was interrupted irregularly by Ava Tuksar in her own box, allowing Ally Cook to make it 6-0 from the spot kick. The Wanderers kept pushing until the end to try and get one in, unsuccessfully.

Canberra Olympic bounced back with style in Wagga Wagga, and will want to capitalize on that win this weekend when they host an in-form Academy. For the Wanderers, now with 3 losses in a row, the trip to Deakin on Sunday comes at the worst time, but would also be a good opportunity to show some spirit and regain some confidence.

 

Canberra United Academy 3 (Perceval (og) 39’, Christopherson 73’, Hunt 87’) beat Gungahlin United FC 2 (Lejins 11’, J. Brown 46’)

Vicki-time is back, this time in NPLW! A few times during the W-League season, Canberra United Academy waited for the dying minutes to take the advantage, and for her first game on the Academy’s bench this season, Vicki Linton saw her team imitate their elders to cause a bit of an upset with a win against Gungahlin.

The game at Hawker started with a round of observation during which both teams showed their efficiency defensively. Gungahlin put their high press in place and the Academy struggled to get the ball our of their half. Diego Iglesias’ squad was rewarded for their effort after 10 minutes. Rachael Corbett stole a ball in her opponent’s feet 25 meters from Chloe Lincoln’s line, drove it towards the box and tapped it for Lejins. The former Academy player battled it out with Alyse Jensen, saw her shot deflected by the defender, and die in the bottom right corner for the opener.

Following a corner kick, undoubtedly rehearsed at training, the Academy’s Sasha Grove found Nikita Perry by herself at the far post, but her header glanced inches away from Kailey Tonini. It was Gungahlin’s turn to suffer under pressure, and the Gunners barely reached Lincoln’s box for the remainder of the half, mainly due to poor execution in the final third. On the other end, Anna Hunt and co would find more and more room behind Gungahlin’s defence and on the wings and kept building pressure on Tonini’s goals. After Annie Grove missed a header 1 metre from the goal line, and Sasha Grove lost a 1 on 1 against Tonini, the home team finally got a deserved equaliser 5 minutes before the break when Sofia Christopherson’s cross was deflected in her own net by Madeleine Perceval.

Back from the locker room, Gungahlin did not waste any time to take the advantage, with another “goal of the season” moment for Jade Brown. Following a quick sequence, Brigitte Sander ran down the right wing, and crossed a low ball towards the 6-yard box. Brown skilfully let the ball roll to her back heel and executed a “Madjer” that left Lincoln no chance. The Gunners kept pushing forward, forcing the Academy to defend and proceed in counter attacks.

Then came the 75^th minute, and a combined press by Sasha Grove and Anna Hunt that succeeded in stealing the ball from Ruby Gambale’s feet. The Gunners were 3 vs 2 and Hunt’s shot/pass reached Christopherson at the far post, who just had to tap the ball in the empty net.

Gungahlin tried to go and get the win but the momentum shifted in the last 10 minutes, with CUA’s block playing higher up and forcing the Gunners to defend closer to their box. Vicki-time kicked in, and on one of the last corners of the game, with 2 minutes to play, Hunt jumped higher than everyone in the 6-yard box and smashed a header in the bottom corner, to score her 5^th goal in as many games, and give her team the 3 points.

The result put Canberra United Academy on the podium, a point above Gungahlin and 2 behind Belconnen. It’s a second loss in a row for the Gunners, who will play West Canberra twice this week, on Tuesday and Sunday, for the Federation Cup semi-final and the NPLW respectively.