PLAYSTATION 4 NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUES: CANBERRA
MATCHDAY 5

Saturday 30th April
FFA COE 2 (Lachlan Brook 52’, John Roberts 60’) Canberra Olympic 3 (Daniel Colbertaldo 20’, Jordan Tsekenis 25’, Jeremy Habtemariam 32’)
(AIS)
Canberra Olympic survived a second half FFA COE onslaught to take the points at the AIS with a 3-2 win. Leading 3-0 at the break the visitors looked very much at ease and cruising towards the maximum return but whatever Head Coach Tony Vidmar said to his young charges at the interval had the desired effect with the Centre of Excellence bossing the second stanza and coming within a whisker of taking a share of the spoils. Olympic dominated the opening forty-five minutes of the clash threatening to score with every well-worked, swift incision into FFA COE territory from as early as the sixth minute when Daniel Colbertaldo squared a pass to Tom McLachlan who was only denied by the feet of Matthew Sutton in the FFA COE goal. 

The goalkeeper spread himself at point blank range to turn the ball behind for a corner for a wonderful save. Sutton was to make an even better stop seven minutes later as a cross ball deflected off the feet of the retreating Joel King at pace, flashing at Sutton who instinctively blocked. The ball bounced free to Robbie Cattanach on the back post but, on the stretch, the Olympic playmaker couldn’t steer it home. Habtemariam was next to try his luck, his low drive saved at the near post before McLachlan sent Jordan Tsekenis clear but the forward blazed his shot straight at the FFA COE custodian. The goal that was coming duly arrived from the resultant corner. A scramble resulted in Cattanach miss-hitting an effort across goal that Colbertaldo stretched to prod over the line from close range.

 It didn’t take long for Olympic to make it two as the FFA COE coughed up cheap possession on the edge of their own area allowing McLachlan to pick out Tsekenis who swept home first-time for his fourth of the season. And two became three just past the half-hour as Adam Rogic picked apart the FFA COE defence with a perfect pass to allow Habtemariam a touch and a lashed finish into the bottom corner. Shortly after, McLachlan saw a curler turned onto the bar by Sutton whilst, at the other end, Angelo Konstantinou was merely a spectator, barely having any work to do despite the tireless running of captain John Roberts. Olympic coach Frank Cachia made two substitutions at the break and the re-shuffle seemed to adversely affect his team as the FFA roared into contention. 

They pulled a goal back seven minutes after the resumption as Roberts ran the channel and held up play before squaring for Lachlan Brook to slot past Konstantinou. Roberts had his just reward for his hard work when he was on the end of a Jaidon Seldon pass, after the latter had broken the Olympic offside trap, and suddenly it was game on. Rahmat Akbari saw a snap-shot saved before James Fletcher’s cross-shot cannoned back off the crossbar with Olympic scrambling. They almost grabbed a point as Patrick Scibilo cut infield to send a curler towards the top corner only for Konstantinou to make an outstanding save. The last opportunity fell to Olympic and Cattanach almost lobbed Sutton from his own half but, come the final whistle, Olympic were relieved winners. 

FFA COE: 1. Matthew SUTTON, 2. James FLETCHER, 3. Patrick SCIBILO, 5. Joel KING, 6. Kai TREWIN, 7. Jacob ITALIANO, 9. John ROBERTS, 10. Lachlan BROOK, 14. Rahmat AKBARI, 15. Luke CALLEN, 22. Jaidon SELDON
Substitutes used: 4. Kaleb COX, 8. Eduardo CASTENEDA, 16. Ben OBST
Canberra Olympic: 1. Angelo KONSTANTINOU, 2. Tim BOBOLAS, 4. Daniel COLBERTALDO, 5. Phil YARNOLD, 6. Jeremy HABTEMARIAM, 8. Bernard RENE, 10. Robbie CATTANACH, 12. Adam ROGIC, 15. Tom MCLACHLAN, 17. Nick BOBOLAS, 18. Jordan TSEKENIS
Substitutes used: 9. Philippe BERNABO-MADRID, 11. Michael REEVE, 23. Nathen MEGIC
YELLOW CARDS: 6. Jeremy HABTEMARIAM, 17. Nick BOBOLAS (Canberra Olympic)
RED CARDS: Nil

Belconnen United 2 (Cameron Reinhart 8’, David Kemp 84’) Tuggeranong United 0
(McKellar Park)

Belconnen United claimed a third win of the season as they emerged victorious from a fiercely-fought encounter with Tuggeranong United at McKellar Park. A goal in each half, scored by Cameron Reinhart and David Kemp, sealed the points for the Blue Devils with a 2-0 win, but Tuggeranong can once more be pleased with several facets of their play as they continually threatened to take something from the match. 

In a keenly contest first half there was not much to choose between the sides despite Belconnen getting off to the perfect start with a goal after only eight minutes. And what a very special goal it was as well. The move started in the Blue Devils defence and was sharp and rapier like in its creation. Jason Ugrinic played a large part in its inception playing a superbly weighted ball into the left hand channel for Sam Smith who was goal-side of his marker. The striker, who has been in cracking form in front of goal so far this season, turned provider this time slinging over a perfect cross that Ugrinic, who had continued his run, cushioned into the path of Reinhart who finished with the calmness of a seasoned centre-forward, slotting past Costa Fallas to complete an outstanding move. 

After that there were limited half chances at both ends as firstly Smith saw a snap-shot saved down low by Fallas before Tuggeranong’s Greek striker Nikolaos Kalfas fizzed a shot from distance that whistled just over the crossbar. Belconnen were next to threaten as Aisosa Ihegie broke down the right flank and pulled the ball back for Dustin Wells but, almost incredibly, the experience campaigner scuffed his effort straight at the ‘keeper when the majority of the ground would have backed him to score. Moments later it was Tuggeranong’s turn to go close as Emilio Kista, the club’s other European import, cracked a 35m shot that had Adam Perakovic in the Belconnen goal concerned as it flashed just wide of the upright. 

It was Tuggeranong who went closest at the beginning of the second half as Kalfas manoeuvred room for a shooting opportunity, firing a blast that Perakovic spilled but cleaned up under pressure from Tim Anderson who was booked for his part in the follow-up. After his miss in the first half Wells was keen to atone but his long range effort was well held by Fallas. Belconnen really should have doubled their lead in the 71st minute as Tuggeranong’s offside trap, following a clearance from a corner, failed leaving Ugrinic free on the edge of the six yard box and central to goal. Remarkably he let Tuggeranong off the hook, screwing the ball wide with the outside of his boot when it appeared easier to score.

It didn’t matter however as, with six minutes to play, the Blue Devils secured the points. Awarded a penalty as the officials adjudged a Belconnen player to be pushed in the area, Wells confidently stepped up only to see his well-struck kick brilliantly turned around the post by Tuggeranong ‘keeper Fallas for a sensational save. But Tuggeranong switched off from the resultant corner. Whilst they cleared the first ball into the box, they weren’t alive to the second-phase possession and Kemp ran in, unmarked, to ram a firm header down and past Fallas who had no chance to seal the points for the home team. 

Belconnen United: 1. Adam PERAKOVIC, 3. Dustin WELLS, 4. David KEMP, 5. Connor NOLAN, 7. Taylor BEATON, 9. Sam SMITH, 10. Jason UGRINIC, 12. Aisosa IHEGIE, 13. Matt VALERI, 16. Cameron REINHART, 18. Nicholas DAHL 
Substitutes used: 11. Nick ROLLS, 14. Michael RINAUDO, 16. Zac MAYBURY
Tuggeranong United: 1. Costa FALLAS, 2. Cameron DOHERTY, 3. Jonathan REIS, 4. Sam SHADBOLT, 6. Sean KIDDEY, 7. Nikoloas KALFAS, 8. Daniel ROBERTS, 10. Emilio KISTA, 13. Tim ANDERSON, 14. Andrew SLAVICH, 15. Liam HIGHMORE
Substitutes used: 5. Nick FAUST, 9. Aaron CASHMAN, 16. Eddie COGGAN
YELLOW CARDS: 5. Connor NOLAN (Belconnen United), 6. Sean KIDDEY, 10. Emilio KISTA, 13. Tim ANDERSON (Tuggeranong United)
RED CARDS: Nil

Sunday 1st May
Canberra FC 2 (Thomas James 18’ (pen), Ryan Keir 50’) Woden-Weston FC 0
(Deakin Stadium)

Canberra FC eased to a 2-0 win over Woden-Weston FC at Deakin Stadium on a difficult afternoon for football. Goals from Thomas James from the penalty spot and a Ryan Keir tap-in sealed a valuable three points for a depleted team against spirited opposition. 

The swirling wind created blustery conditions which made any coherent football particularly difficult but Woden-Weston’s Spanish import Richy Hurtado Lora made light work of the conditions early on. It was Lora that fired the first shot in anger in the ninth minute and went close to giving his team the lead. The midfielder squirmed into a pocket of space and let fly from 25 metres with a shot which, with the aid of the merest of deflections, skimmed off the top of the crossbar with Canberra FC goalkeeper Rory Larkin scrambling. Canberra FC’s response was to work Ian Graham into the area, goal-side of the defence, but his shot from the angle was too tame to trouble Kris Trajanoski who comfortably gathered.

Canberra FC took the lead in the eighteenth minute when striker James pierced the offside trap and was up-ended as he rounded goalkeeper Kris Trajanoski for a clear penalty. James stepped up himself to plant a firm spot-kick into the bottom corner. Woden-Weston responded well and Lora crashed a shot against the crossbar from the angle before, from the immediate counter-attack, Misko Naumoski was sent clear but stabbed his shot wide of the target. As the wind continued to howl around the ground passes continued to go astray but, just before half-time, Canberra FC’s Jordan Lamb caught a shot flush and watched as his effort bounced off the outside of the post. 

Canberra FC could have extended their lead in the early parts of the second half, playing with the wind, but were unable to utilise their attacking threats with James curling a free-kick wide from just outside the area and Naumoski just lacking the pace to get on the end of an astute pass from Ian Graham. A second goal appeared to be coming and it duly arrived in the 50th minute. Naumoski hit a low shot across goal that Trajanoski parried, but only into the path of Keir who had the easiest of finishes. 

Shortly after the hosts gave a first team debut to young striker Ned Povel as the home team, shorn of regulars Robbie Deeley (meniscus), James Field (back), Josip Jadric (overseas), Nathan Evans (knee) and Michael Mensah (suspended), looked to wrap up the match. Aidan Brunskill saw a far post header chalked out for offside as Canberra FC turned up the pressure. Woden-Weston’s best opportunity looked to be through Lora who was dictating their attacking endeavours but was often left with too much to do.

Woden-Weston did create an opening with six minutes to go as substitute Jarryd Clifton got away from the Canberra FC defence but he hurried the finish and pushed his effort wide of the near post. At the other end James was denied a second by a stunning save from Trajanoski who blocked his shot on the turn from eight yards with the defence completing the clearance. 

Canberra FC: 1. Rory LARKIN, 5. Izach CLEMENTS, 6. Ryan KEIR, 8. Ian GRAHAM, 9. Thomas JAMES, 11. Marko VRKIC, 13. Kye EDWARDS, 15. Jordan LAMB, 17. Aidan BRUNSKILL, 18. Misko NAUMOSKI, 21. Anthony GIORGI
Substitutes used: 3. Christian PRATEZINA, 20. Ned POVEL, 23. Joseph BROWN
Woden-Weston FC: 1. Kris TRAJANOSKI, 2. Bradley OLIVERA, 6. Ben GRIEG, 7. Matthew WATERS, 8. Richy HURTADO LORA, 9. Daniel DI-SALVATORE, 10. Caleb BROWN, 11. Daniel GRAHAM, 12. Tim DEHELEAN, 16. Adam DE FRANCESCHI, 18. Mitch KORDA
Substitutes used: 14. Romeo ROMEO, 19. Jarryd CLIFTON
YELLOW CARDS: 1. Kris TRAJANOSKI, 6. Ben GRIEG, 16. Adam DE FRANCESCHI (Woden-Weston FC), 6. Ryan KEIR, 8. Ian GRAHAM, 21. Anthony GIORGI (Canberra FC)
RED CARDS: Nil

Monaro Panthers 1 (Darian McGarry-Watson 90+4’) Gungahlin United 1 (Jack Green 75’)
(Riverside Stadium)

By Ahmed Jbeili

A 94th minute equaliser from Monaro Panthers winger Darian McGarry-Watson rescued a point for the home side as they tied 1-1 with Gungahlin United on a windy Sunday afternoon at Riverside Stadium. Both sides looking to crack the top four will feel they’ve lost some ground moving up the PS4 NPL ladder. The Panthers will consider themselves unlucky not to score in the first half after dominating the possession and creating more chances. 

The attacking trio of Gil Rodrigues, Darian McGarry-Watson and Martin Deng were causing the Gungahlin defence trouble from the opening whistle.  Thanks to Gungahlin keeper Jason Benham, who was called into action early on in the match, the Panthers were kept from scoring with some superb saves. With limited possession throughout the first half, the away side had to result to counter attacks and long balls through the defence.  

Gungahlin almost found a breakthrough in the twenty-fifth minute when striker Mitch Steenbergen was played through brilliantly by attacking midfielder Marcial Munoz, but the shot didn’t trouble Panthers keeper Nathan Alferink. Both sides had their chances but nobody could find the back of the net and the first half ended deadlocked at 0-0. The second half the game began to open up with both teams having a number of opportunities to score. Attacker Deng was again looking dangerous on the right wing and causing havoc to the Gunners defence. On the other side of the pitch Steenbergen was again at heart of the action and almost had a goal in the fifty-fifth minute, only for Alferink to save the shot again. 

The sixty-fifth minute brought a string of three consecutive free kicks in dangerous areas for the Panthers. All three shots were on target but caused no troubles for Benham. The Panthers at this point were dominating the match but after a foul on Gunners attacker Liam Walsh by defender Tony Spaseski, the away side had a set-piece in a promising position. A beautiful free kick by winger Regan Walsh met the head of substitute Jack Green who put the Gunners in the lead in the seventy-fifth minute.  

With not long to go, the home side put all their efforts into attack to try and find an equaliser. The Panthers started to look dangerous on the attack after substitute Thomas Hewitt created some close chances from the left wing. Gungahlin began to slow down the game and when it looked like it was all over, the Panthers were awarded a corner in the fourth minute of added time. In the last play of the game, with every player in the Gungahlin box, a corner whipped in by Murphy somehow scrambled and found the boot of McGarry-Watson who scored the equaliser and salvaged a point for the Panthers. The result is fair after an even match up and both teams will finish Matchday 5 just outside the PS4 NPL Top 4.

Monaro Panthers: 21. Nathan ALFERINK, 3. Daniel HEARLE, 4. Luka MARKULIN, 5. Chris RUIZ, 6. Alan MURPHY, 7. Daniel FELLIZZI, 8. Sam ROESTBAKKEN, 9. Gilfran RODRIGUES, 11. Darian MCGARRY-WATSON, 12. Tony SPASESKI, 14. Martin DENG
Substitutes used: 13. Ed MCCARTHY, 16. Thomas HEWITT, 17. Lachlan HUNTER
Gungahlin United: 1. Jason DENHAM, 2. Alex MOSCARITOLO, 3. David DEXTER, 7. Regan WALSH, 8. Christian JUNNA, 10. Marcial MUNOZ, 11. Jake WILSENER, 12. Mitch STEENBERGEN, 14. Liam WALSH, 15. David JENKINS, 16. Jamie VEARNCOMBE
Substitutes used: 4. Jack GREEN, 5. Jason O’DWYER, 9. Nathan DUCK
YELLOW CARDS: 12. Tony SPASESKI (Monaro Panthers), 14. Liam WALSH (Gungahlin United)
RED CARDS: Nil

CU Academy 1 (Daniel Fabrizio 68’) Tigers FC 4 (Milan Popovich 35’, Julian Borgna 51’, Stephen Domenici 71’ (pen), Daniel Barac 90’)
(Hawker Football Centre)

By David Jordan

Tigers FC maintained their unbeaten start to the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues: Canberra season with a 4-1 win over the Canberra United Academy at Hawker Enclosed on Sunday. Milan Popovich opened the scoring for the visitors ten minutes before half-time, before goals from Julian Borgna, Stephen Domenici & Daniel Barac put paid to Daniel Fabrizio’s second-half effort for Academy. 

The home side started brightly, as Joshua Gulevski headed over at the back post from Thomas Krklec’s pinpoint cross after just three minutes. The forward was almost made to rue his great chance in the 19th minute as Borgna’s swiveling shot thundered off the inside of the upright down the other end and Alex Oloriegbe had a goal ruled out for offside after half an hour.

Creating the majority of the match’s danger, Tigers only had to wait another five minutes for the opener, as Popovich headed home from close range after a defender’s sliced clearance onto the crossbar. Academy struggled on the defensive end with players not tracking back on counter-attacks and were lucky to make it to half-time only a goal down. Academy started slowly again and were lucky just five minutes in as Tigers had another effort ruled out by the linesman, but only had to wait two minutes longer to double their advantage as Dejan Santrac’s lofted free-kick was headed home from close range by Borgna. The midfielder had a back-heel effort cleared off the line just moments later too, as he took a stranglehold on the game.

Fabrizio gave Academy a glimmer of hope in the 70th min with a tidy close range finish into the bottom corner, however just two minutes later Tigers were awarded a penalty as Dominici was hauled down in the box. The in-form forward stepped up to calmly extend his side’s lead from the spot, as Tigers began to tighten their grip on the match once more. Sam Brown was forced into a number of fine saves in the closing stages as Tigers pressed to emphatically kill off the game, however he was beaten in the 90th minute as Barac finished off a slide-rule through ball past a static defence to seal the deal.

Tigers now head home to face Monaro Panthers next week at Nijong Oval and tighten their grip on the top of the table, while the Academy will face off against the FFA Centre of Excellence at the AIS, in what is likely to be a high-energy clash between two young, exciting teams.

CU Academy: 1. Sam BROWN, 2. Ross COSTANZO, 3. Ridwan HANNAN, 4. Antoni TIMOTHEOU, 5. Niko KRESIC, 7. Joshua GULEVSKI, 8. Adrian MACOR, 10. Daniel FABRIZIO, 11. Tomas KRKELC, 13. Daniel SUBASIC, 17. Tony MADAFFARI
Substitutes used: 6. Bul JUACH, 9. Sam WHITHEAR, 18. Jonathan TUREK
Tigers FC: 1. Francois BANGWENI, 2. Nahuel GUERREO, 3. Hussein FUREJE 4. Osman FOFANAH, 5. Julian BORGNA, 7. Dejan SANTRAC, 8. Milan POPOVICH, 9. Daniel BARAC, 10. Alex OLORIEGBE, 12. Alan GASTON, 17. Stephen DOMENICI
Substitutes used: 13. Tobias DOWTON, 15. Jared TONINI, 16. Brad MOREE
YELLOW CARDS: 2. Ross COSTANZO, 8. Adrian MACOR (CU Academy)
RED CARDS: Nil

TABLE

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LEADING SCORERS 
6 Sam SMITH (Belconnen United), Stephen DOMENICI (Tigers FC)
5 John ROBERTS (FFA COE) 
4 Jordan TSEKENIS (Canberra Olympic), Jaidon SELDON (FFA COE), Nicolas ABOT (Tigers FC)
3 Jason UGRINIC (Belconnen United), Thomas JAMES (Canberra FC), Mitch STEENBERGEN (Gungahlin United), Mark SHIELDS (Monaro Panthers)
2 Josip JADRIC (Canberra FC), Jeremy HABETMARIAM (Canberra Olympic), Tomas KRKLEC (CU Academy), Bryce BAFFORD (FFA COE), Daniel BARAC, Alex OLORIEGBE (Tigers FC), Domenic COLUCCIELLO, Marco GAYER, Andrew SLAVICH (Tuggeranong United)
1 Matt GRBESA, David KEMP, Cameron REINHART, Toby RICHTER, Dustin WELLS (Belconnen United), Nikola BARISIC, Robbie DEELEY, Domenic GIAMPAOLO, Ryan KEIR (Canberra FC), Philippe BERNABO-MADIRD, Tim BOBOLAS, Robbie CATTANACH, Daniel COLBERTALDO, Angelo KONSTANTINOU (Canberra Olympic), Daniel FABRIZIO, Joshua GULEVSKI (CU Academy), Rahmat AKBARI, Lachlan BROOK, Mirza MURATOVIC, Marc TOKICH (FFA COE), Nathan DUCK, Jack GREEN, Alex MOSCARITOLO, Marcial  MUNOZ, Liam WALSH (Gungahlin United), Ed MCCARTHY, Darian MCGARRY-WATSON (Monaro Panthers), Julian BORGNA, Osman FOFANAH, Alan GASTON, Nahuel GUERRERO, Milan POPOVICH (Tigers FC), Nikolaos KALFAS, Emilio KISTA, Jonathan REIS, Sam SHADBOLT Tuggeranong United), Bensah AFIABO, Daniel DI-SALVATORE, Ben GRIEG, Tom HIRST, Matthew WATERS (Woden-Weston FC)