NPL1 Round 6 Wrap
Canberra Olympic FC 2 (Kerzsberg 35’, Ihegie 45 + 2) def by Canberra Croatia FC 5 (Kalfas 3’ (p), Keir 30’, Barac 36’, Southam 37 (og), Taneski 87’)
Canberra Croatia defeated fierce rivals Canberra Olympic in a seven goal thriller at O’Connor enclosed on Saturday afternoon.
Canberra Croatia was a goal up after two minutes with Nikos Kalfas going down in the penalty box. Kalfas converted, which gave the visitors an early lead.
At the 30th minute, Ryan Keir tapped it in after a Canberra Croatia corner, doubling their lead within the first half hour.
Soon after, an action packed three minute period saw three goals scored.
Canberra Olympic thought they were back in contention after a long range free-kick effort from Jonathan Kerszberg went in, making it 2-1 in the 35th.
However, Canberra Croatia weren’t having it. Goals from Daniel Barac in the 36th and an own goal from Michael Southam in the 37th, once again doubled their lead to make it 4-1.
Canberra Olympic’s Aisosa Ihegie was able to put one in, bang on half time to see six goals scored in the first 45 minutes.
Olympic were unable to find a solution in the second half, with Canberra Croatia holding the majority of the possession.
Nikola Taneski sealed the deal for Canberra Croatia in the 87th minute leaving the final score 5-2.
Monaro Panthers FC 2 (Calabria 49’, 88’) drew with Tuggeranong United FC 2 (Slavich 14’, Peterkin 78’)
The Round 6 bottom of the table clash saw a draw between the Monaro Panthers and Tuggeranong United at Riverside Stadium.
In the 14th minute, Tuggeranong’s Andrew Slavich capitalised on a poor Monaro backpass, intercepting it to make it 1-0.
Just after the commencement of the second half, unlikely goal scorer for the Panthers, Josh Calabria, tapped one in with the defender to equalise things in the 49th.
Tuggeranong gained the lead once more from a corner in the 78th minute, with a scrappy finish from Euan Peterkin inside the Monaro penalty area.
Surprisingly, it was Calabria again who scored to draw level in the 88th, with a diving header from a Monaro set piece making it 2-2 at full time.
West Canberra Wanderers 1 (Paesler 89’) def by Tigers FC 5 (Strika 15’, 52’, Borgna 25’ (p), 58’, 75’)
A hattrick from Julian Borgna sealed the deal for the Tigers on Saturday, in what was a convincing 5-1 victory over the West Canberra Wanderers in Round 6 of the NPL1.
The first goal of the afternoon came in the 15th minute, when the Tigers’ Roko Strika came down the left wing, skillfully getting past the defenders to bury it into the bottom corner.
Midfielder Julian Borgna doubled the Tigers lead with a penalty kick in the 25th minute, landing it in the top right-hand corner of the net.
The Wanderers looked to hit back with a good attempt in the 44th minute. Seamus Carlo saw a break and found his Columbian striker, who fired it towards goal, only to land in the hands of Jakob Cole.
Up by 4 but the guests weren’t done yet. A free kick soared it over the heads of several Wanderers’ as well as their keeper, to give Borgna his hattrick.
Coming off the bench, a determined Jackon Paesler recorded the hosts only goal for the afternoon, with a left foot pearler from distance.
The Tigers were undoubtedly the stronger team on Saturday, and they are now nipping at the heels of top placed Canberra Croatia FC, with three wins recorded this season.
Belconnen United 3 (Darren Bailey 2’, 28’, Michael Aikon Mensah 76’) drew with Gungahlin United 3 (Phillipe Bernabo-Madrid 3’, Misko Naumoski 51’, Moses Garang 72’)
As Belconnen United were looking for a win to send them top of the table they faced a Gungahlin United side who were determined to get back to winning ways.
Belconnen were first to strike, as Darren Bailey broke past the defence and scored within two minutes to give the Blue Devils a dream start.
Gungahlin immediately replied in the third minute through Phillipe Bernabo-Madrid as he headed the ball into the back of the net to equalise the game at 1-1.
Bailey grabbed his second for the day as he ran onto a ball in behind the Gungahlin defence and chipped the goalkeeper to restore their lead going into halftime at 2-1.
Gungahlin’s Misko Naumoski found himself open in the Belconnen box and calmly curled his shot past the goalkeeper to get Gungahlin back in the game.
A lazy pass from the Belconnen attack saw Moses Garang pick up the ball and drive at the defence. Without hesitation he picked out the top corner with a fantastic strike to give Gungahlin the lead.
A corner late in the game saw Michael Aikon Mensah rise above everyone, to head it into the back of the net. Despite some late attempts no team could break the deadlock and the match ended 3-3.
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