Canberra Croatia FC 6 (Palombi 14’, 86’, Barac 52’, Jones 74’, Hagen 75’, Bisset 82’) beat Wagga City Wanderers 0

The reigning champions keep their undefeated run alive in NPLW. Canberra Croatia had to wait for the last 15 minutes to get comfortable on the scoreboard against a less experienced Wagga City that showed a lot of spirit and resilience before running out of steam. The home team negotiated well an outing that could have been complicated, to end a week where they faced Belconnen twice.

The game started with Nik Brozinic’s team on the front foot. With Grace Gill and Olivia Fogarty on the bench, Brittany Palombi led the offense besides Jordan Ujdur and Sharon Chao. The Golden Boot 2020, well on her way for a repeat, created a couple of opportunities for herself early on. She just needed 10 minutes to adjust her aim. In very Palombi fashion, she found a pocket of space at the edge of the box and delivered a thunderous strike in the top left corner, out of reach of Samantha Emms. The keeper would be the main reason the score was not more severe at half time, thanks to a few saves and anticipations to push the danger away.

The second half started with Nik Brozinic’s team in the same mindset, and Grace Gill on the pitch, but the local unfortunately came out injured 20 minutes later. It took them 6 minutes to finally score a second. After a ball was cleared away too casually by the Wanderers’ defence, Alice Churchill inherited the ball on her left wing, with plenty of time to deliver a perfect cross in the middle of the box. Unchallenged, Bella Barac had the time to control the ball for her first goal of the season.

Wagga City tried to answer with Megan Castle, but her chance from out of the box lacked the power needed to really worry Ally Hinson.

With Chantel Jones, Olivia Fogarty and Jamie Berkely all on the field for the last 20 minutes Canberra Croatia had the freshness needed to suffocate their opponent. Emms would deny Jones a goal once, but seconds later the new entrant would take her time to pick out the bottom corner from point blank range.

Brittany Palombi received the second assist from Jones at the 86^th minute, when her shot from outside the box bounced just before and over Emms to make it 6-0. In between these 2 goals, Jenny Bissett also added her name to the scoresheet, with a left footed effort at the end of a solo run.

The end score read a bit harsh for the Wagga City team, that was however rarely able to be a problem for Canberra Croatia defensively. Sam Gray’s team will host Canberra United Academy this weekend. The champions, in the meantime, will play at home again, hosting Gungahlin United for an epic Sunday showdown.

 

Canberra Olympic FC 4(Hardwicke 39’, Sykes 50’, Cook 78’, 86’) drew with Canberra United Academy 4 (Hunt 6, Christopherson 45+1’, 62’, 84’)

The game of the week surely saw Canberra Olympic levelling with the Academy 4 times on Sunday at O’Connor. The epic showdown between Nicole Begg and Vicki Linton went to the wire, with 3 goals scored in the last 15 minutes.

The game started with the high intensity we have come to expect from both teams, and the visitors would not waste time, taking the lead after just over 5 minutes thanks to their leading goal scorer.

Anna Hunt’s powerful strike from the edge of the found the empty net, just after Aurelia Haynes had superbly won her duel with Sasha Grove by her near post. Olympic’s Ash Sykes tried to answer quickly, but the runs by the former W-League player were met by fierce defensive efforts.

The game turned into a disputed battle of the midfield with Begg’s team having the best chances and Chloe Lincoln keeping her net untouched until 5 minutes before the break. Ally Cook’s free kick from close to the half way line reached the box, and Lincoln, trying to box it away, misjudged the trajectory, but also made contact with Lucy D’Arcy. The referee did not give a foul and Raechel Hardwicke, like a real poacher, waited for the ball to bounce towards her and headed it into the empty net. Olympic tried to take advantage of the momentum but Lincoln, again, was on Sykes way when she tried to score from short range.

Sadly for the home side, a combined mistake by their centre back and goalkeeper offered Sofia Christopherson the goal needed to put the Academy back up seconds before the half time whistle.

Begg’s team came back on the field guns blazing to try and level the score again. Ashleigh Sykes would take the matter in her own hands with 3 chances in 2 minutes. Her first attempt, a powerful left footed effort, crashed on the crossbar; the second one, from the right, was denied by Lincoln, but the third one, a volley after she headed the ball for herself, snuck between the keeper’s legs to make it 2-2 and bring her tally for the season at 8 goals.

Christopherson tried to answer a first time, but by herself facing Haynes, she blazed it wide. She did not let the second chance slip away however, perfectly served by Anna Hunt in front of the empty, to give United their third advantage on the day. They were lucky to keep it 3 minutes later when Miro, in front of the empty net, uncharacteristically blazed her opportunity over the crossbar. Lincoln would delay the issue of the game with another great save following Hardwicke’s shot, but on the following corner, could not grab the ball, offering Cook her first goal of the day from point blank range.

Christopherson would go on and get a hat trick for the visitors, earning a corner kick and scoring an unorthodox goal with her knees at the end of it. With 5 minutes left on the clock, the Academy probably thought the game was in the bag but on the kick off, Sykes ran towards the box, only to be fouled just outside it. From 18 meters, Ally Cook’s free kick perfectly dipped behind the wall and out of reach for Lincoln, for the 8^th and last goal of this thriller, despite a last chance by Anna Hunt, successfully beaten away by Haynes.

The Academy keep their 3^rd spot on the table with that draw, before their trip to the Riverina on the weekend. Olympic can regret not scoring more of their opportunities, and will need to concede less if they want their third win of the season, Sunday when they visit Tuggeranong.

 

Gungahlin United FC 0 def. By West Canberra Wanderers FC 1 (Edwards 86’)

It’s now two for two for West Canberra against Gungahlin United, after their midweek win in the Federation Cup semi-final, and now another win grabbed in the dying moments of the NPLW.

The game at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval started as a cagey affair, between two teams probably tired from the mid-week game. Forced to resort to long range shots in the first half, the Wanderers fired the first shots, with Emma Stanbury and Tiana Jaber trying to put Kailey Tonini under pressure, without success. The Gunners needed 10-15 minutes to find their bearings, and finally bring the danger around Janet King’s area, without finding the target however.

The game gained in intensity, with both teams creating half opportunities, but mainly showcasing their excellent defending ability. Diego Iglesias’ tactics, with 2 fullbacks playing offensively on the same level as their strikers, worked well to prevent Kilkie Leten and Alex McKenzie from bringing the danger on the wings for the Wanderers. The best opportunity in the first 45 minutes would be credited to Elke Aitolu. 5 minutes before the break, the home side’s forward took her responsibility on a free kick from 20 metres. Her ball perfectly swerved over the wall and came crashing on King’s crossbar, leaving the striker wondering how she had not scored.

The second half started on a similar rhythm, with West Canberra defending more than they were attacking, and the Gunners using the width of the pitch again to find solutions. Gungahlin’s best shot at scoring in the second half was a chance for Jade Brown, who ran in the 6 yard box to cut a cross by Natalie De Marco.

West Canberra coach/player Emma Stanbury made herself louder on the pitch, and with a couple of subs, including Tuesday’s hero Samantha Savanhu, the visitors seemed reinvigorated. Another entrant, Liz Edwards, went for run after run on her left wing, causing issues in the Gungahlin back line. She would be the one to score the decider with 5 minutes left to play. Following one of many runs by Jaber on the right wing, Stanbury inherited the ball 20 metres from goal. Without hesitation, the skipper took her chance, and her powerful shot forced Tonini to a dive on her bottom right side. Unfortunately for the keeper, she was only able to slap the ball away in her 6 yard box, and Edwards was the fastest to get the rebound and bury it in the back of the net. The Gunners tried to throw their last forces at the game but the score would not change.

The Wanderers, with the most prestigious of their three wins in a row, are making a name for themselves in the competition after a timid start and will want to confirm next week, against Belconnen. Gungahlin will need to move on from the heartbreaking defeat as fast as possible: they travel to Deakin next Sunday to face undefeated Canberra Croatia.

 

Tuggeranong United FC 0 def by Belconnen United FC 6(Clarke 32’, Backhouse’, McGlashan 40’, Thornton 51’, 84’, Ryan 73’)

The Blue Devils got a much needed win in Kambah, after 2 losses in the last week to Canberra Croatia. The score line feels harsh to Tuggeranong once again, who wasted early opportunities that could have changed the game on Sunday.

Tuggeranong would not let Belconnen’s new starting line-up any time to set up, and probably took the Blue Devils by surprise with their speed in transition. The Tuggies’ defence, very much like against Canberra Croatia, proved well in place and hard to get through, with Ashley Condon coordinating her team’s efforts perfectly.

Tuggeranong then used their density in the middle of the park, and the pace of Maddie Magee in counter attacks to keep Belconnen on their toes. Magee would be a problem for her opponents several time in that first half. Seconds after Michaela Thornton found Sophie Rolfe’s post, the striker would offer the home team their best opportunity of the game. Launched behind the defence, she ran towards the box, but her shot from 16 metres away ended inches wide of Cristina Esposito’s goals. Magee, on her way to another duel with the Blue Devils’ keeper 10 minutes later, was stopped illegally by Karen Clarke, in position of last defender. The referee took his time and decided to give the centre back a yellow card.

Belconnen weathered the storm and decided to wait for their turn. The solution came from set pieces, with Clarke scoring the first goal of the day after the half hour mark. The direct free kick, from over 30 metres away, surprised Rolfe and found the back of the net. Another free-kick, taken by Leah Carnegie minutes later, was successfully headed in by Talia Backhouse at the far post.

The second half started the best way possible for visitors. Thornton, in form on Sunday despite playing her third full game of the week, found the inspiration to strike the ball from 25 metres away to clean the cobweb in the top right corner of Tuggeranong’s goals.

The Tuggies would almost never bother Esposito in that second half, but would keep defending with the intensity shown in the first act. Belconnen would work their goal difference in the last 15 minutes thanks to 2 more goals, from Vanessa Ryan from short range, and Thornton, again from long range, chipping the ball over Rolfe.

Status quo on the table, after Canberra Croatia and Belconnen wins. The Blue Devils will face an in form West Canberra side at McKellar next week. Tuggeranong, in the meantime, will hope that the addition of their new coach, Paulo Romero, helps them getting their first point against Canberra Olympic on Sunday.