Canberra Croatia FC 3 (Hagen 5’, Gill 23’, 38’) beat Belconnen United FC 1 (Backhouse 24’)

The clash of the weekend in Deakin on Saturday ended in a comfortable win for the home side, and Canberra Croatia now find themselves three points away from the Blue Devils.

The final score showed the same tally than their Round 5 encounter earlier this season, and just like in that game, it took Canberra Croatia only five minutes to open the score. A set piece was at the origin of the goal, and Krista Hagen, not the tallest player on the pitch, scored her second header of the season, picking the top right corner this time.

The Blue Devils, shaken and under constant pressure from their opponent, could barely get the ball out of their own half. The reigning champions tried to kill the match as fast as possible, forcing Esposito to a series of save, and to seek help from her post, to keep her team in the contest. The home side finally found a breach, or rather created one, on an indirect free kick in the box just after 20 minutes played. Brittany Palombi pushed the ball to Grace Gill, whose powerful strike pierced through Esposito and nine (!) of her teammates, standing side by side on the goal line.

This time the Blue Devils would find a way to answer, and within seconds, Talia Backhouse, 25 metres away, took her chance and slotted the ball in the bottom corner of Ally Hinson’s goals. What looked like the start of a rebellion ended being a lone spark from the visitors, who ended the half the way they started it, in their own half, giving away too many cheaply too close to their own box not to be punished.

The third goal came seven minutes before the break. Hagen and Gill pressed together to steal the ball from Belconnen, and three passes later, Palombi was again offering the ball to her captain, who opened her foot to score her eighth goal this season. Back from the break, Nik Brozinic’s side did not turn down the pressure. The Blue Devils attempting to be more offensive with Reilly Yuen replacing Katie Woodman, were kept mute, only able to get close to Hinson’s area on a couple of occasions. They showed better execution defensively, but could thank the post again for denying Canberra Croatia’s forwards a fourth goal. The score remained unchanged, and Belconnen recorded a second defeat in the regular season.

Canberra Croatia, just like after Round 1, are thanks to the win three points ahead of their rivals, before travelling to the Riverina on Sunday. Belconnen in the meantime, will try and bounce back at home against the tenacious Tuggies.

 

Canberra Olympic FC 6 (Sykes, 4’, 56’, Hardwicke 49’, Vandenbroucke 29’, Cook 70’ pen, Cary 87’ og) beat Wagga City Wanderers FC 0

Canberra Olympic secured a precious win at home, while looking after their goal difference, during Wagga City’s visit to O’Connor.

The home side started all guns blazing, and needed less than five minutes for their star striker, Ashleigh Sykes, to put her name on the scoresheet. Found perfectly by Ally Cook in the box, Sykes left Sammy Emms no chance when she aimed and found the bottom corner. The Wanderers tried to respond, in the game and on set pieces, but could not do better than finding Aurelia Haynes’ crossbar. Nicole Begg’s troops slowly took control of the game again, and just before the half hour mark, Sykes decided to offer a goal to Vandenbroucke, all alone in the six-yard box, who skilfully put the ball past Emms. The danger, as often for Wagga City, came from Christina Grauer-Kompos, but her attempt from the edge of the box was stopped by Haynes.

Back from the locker room, Olympic pushed early to score the third. Emms denied Jordan Ujdur with a firm right foot but a minute later, Cook signed her second assist on free kick, with Raechel Hardwicke on the receiving end heading the ball in the side net. Sam Gray’s players did not give up but found an inspired Haynes on their way. The keeper was unbeatable on Sunday, even when Bronte Buik’s shot seemed destined for the bottom corner. Sykes scored her second goal on the day minutes later, tapping the ball in the empty net at the end of a great combination between Hardwicke and Vanderbroucke. The fifth goal came from the spot kick thanks to the home side specialist, Ally Cook, after the referee signalled a foul from Casey Smith on Ashleigh Sykes. There is nothing Emms could do to stop that perfect penalty, powerful and in the top right corner. The sixth and last goal of the game was an unfortunate own goal by Sophie Cary following a corner for Olympic.

The three points and the six goals allow Canberra Olympic to steal the third spot on the table, a week before a crucial game in Hawker against Canberra United Academy. For Wagga City, it is another game they fought hard to get something out of, but unfortunately for them, Haynes was in form on Sunday. Hosting Canberra Croatia this weekend won’t be an easy task.

 

Gungahlin United FC 3 (Pennyfield 17’, N. De Marco 36’, 61’) beat Canberra United Academy 2 (Christopherson 9’, Perry 56’)

Gungahlin United are back in business! With that win at home against the Academy, Diego Iglesias’ squad are back only a point away from the podium.

The game did not start the best way however for the Gunners. Put under pressure from the get go by an Academy team playing with usual style, Gungahlin conceded within the first 10 minutes. Natalie De Marco, looking for her teammate in defence, saw her pass intercepted by Nikita Perry. The Academy’s winger launched her partner in crime Anna Hunt in the box, and Hunt’s shot somehow snuck between Kailey Tonini’s legs, only for Christopherson, who had followed up, to tap it into the empty net. The home side’s reaction would not take too long. Seven minutes later, Erika Pennyfield, from the corner of the box, did not hesitate and struck a powerful shot that found the top corner. The equaliser seemed a just reward for the efforts made by the home team to come back in the game. Gungahlin took the game over 10 minutes before half time when Chloe Lincoln was unable to block Steffi Lejins’ shot from distance. The ball bubbled in front of the keeper and Natalie De Marco, like a real poacher, pounced and scored the second goal for her team.

Back from the locker room, CUA showcased the intensity we are used to seeing and tried to come back on the scoresheet. The opportunity presented itself on set piece, and thanks to Tonini misjudging the football, Nikita Perry was happy to inherit the ball centimetres away from the goal line, from where she easily headed it in the back of the net. Unfortunately, five minutes later, the Gunners took their goal advance again, following a copy and paste of the second goal. Jade Brown this time, shot from within the box, and the power of her strike prevented Lincoln from blocking the ball. Just like earlier in the game, Natalie De Marco was nearby and able to tapped the ball past.

The result allows the Gunners to level with the Academy on the table, before playing another rival, West Canberra, in Melrose. United will face the other member of this quartet for two semi-finals spots, Canberra Olympic.

 

 

Tuggeranong United FC 1 (Magee 2’) def by West Canberra Wanderers FC 2 (Whitfield 75’, McKenzie 82’)

The Tuggies were only 15 minutes away from their first win this season! After a perfect start and a solid performance, they conceded 2 goals in the last 15 minutes, that cost them the game.

It took West Canberra a while to see a positive result emerge from their trip to Kambah. Tuggeranong had taken a perfect start admittedly, with a goal very early on. Maddy Magee was on the receiving end of a cross coming from the right side, and by herself in front of Janet King, did not leave the keeper a chance to stop her chance. The rest of the first half was a battle of the midfield with both teams trying to score from a distance, without success.

Back from the locker room, the Wanderers were almost surprised early again, but this time King was able to deflect Kassandra Guglielmin’s attempt above the crossbar. West Canberra kept pushing, but Sophie Rolfe, in fine form, was here to stop every ball aimed at her. The reward finally came at the 75^th minute for the visitors, thanks to their captain Sarah Whitfield. On a free kick coming from the right, the centre back ran from the back post to cut the ball at the front post and head it in the back of the net. Tuggeranong thought they had answered five minutes later by Steph Coates, after King failed to block a ball, but the goal was denied by a whistle for a foul by Coates on the keeper. The Wanderers switched back to attacking mode but Rolfe, again, denied Whitfield. On the very next opportunity however, the goal scorer became the passer, when her cross found Alex McKenzie, who pounced in front of her defender to give her team a precious win.

Heartbreaking result for Tuggeranong who thought their win was in reach. Their next game, at McKellar against Belconnen, should prove more complicated. West Canberra with the three points take the fourth place before hosting Gungahlin, sitting just one point behind them, at Melrose on Sunday.