Belconnen United 2 (Sam Whithear 26’, Phil Borgeaud 47’) def. by Tigers FC 3 (Hussein Fureje 18’, Jose Defilippi 45’, Mark Shields 73’)

By Tim Warren

Tigers FC asserted themselves on top of the NPL1 ladder with an impressive 3-2 win over Belconnen United at McKellar Park on Saturday afternoon.

The round 12 victory was Tigers’ eighth win of the season taking them to 26 competition points.

Tigers had to find the go-ahead goal on three occasions during the match to claim the three points, with Belconnen equalising twice.

Both teams started the match slowly in what was a hesitant opening 15 minutes, in a game that turned out to be a physical and end-to-end contest.

The visitors found the opening goal of the game in the 18^th minute when Hussain Fureje headed home Mark Shields’ superbly weighted cross at the back post.

United were quick to reply though, equalising just eight minutes later when Sam Whithear scrambled the ball into the net through a cluster of bodies in the box.

The match drama went up another gear though as Tigers were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half time when Shields went down in the box following contact from Belconnen United keeper Deakin Jewell.

Jose Defilippi stepped up to take the spot kick and confidently drilled the ball down the middle of the net, giving the visitors a slender advantage going into the break.

Although, as per the trend for most of the afternoon, Belconnen were never going to give up without a fight.

The Blue Devils started the second half in the best possible way with Phil Borgeaud cracking an outstanding volley into the top corner in the 47^th minute.

The scores were locked at 2-2 for a chunk of the second half and with scoring opportunities not being utilised it looked as though the game would end in a deadlock.

With the clock ticking down and looking as though both sides were running out of time to find a winner, Shields stepped up to the plate to rescue his side.

After a chipped pass was played into the area the ball fell to Shields’ feet and he fired it past Jewell with 17 minutes left amongst a clamour of Belconnen defenders.

And that’s how the game ended, with Tigers FC able to play out the remaining minutes of the match and hang onto an important win in the context of the title race.

Belconnen United will be looking to return to form next Saturday with a blockbuster clash against Canberra FC at McKellar Park, while the Tigers will be hoping to keep their good momentum going as they face Woden-Weston next Sunday at Nijong Oval.

 

Woden-Weston 1 (Alex Oloriegbe 30’) drew. Riverina Rhinos 1 (Keith Jackson 35’)

The Rhinos picked up points for the second week in a row and hindered Woden-Weston’s top four chances as the two teams shared the points at Melrose on Saturday.

Keith Jackson’s excellent form continued as he scored to peg the Wanderers back, with all the action taking place in the opening 40 minutes.

Alex Oloriegbe gave the Wanderers the lead after just 30 minutes to put his side in pole position, in a game where a win would put them firmly in the mix for finals.

The hosts attacked down the right with a lovely exchange of passing before a cross was fired in, that beat the keeper and fell perfectly for Oloriegbe to tap home from close range.

But just five minutes later the Rhinos were level when Jackson robbed his defender of the ball and stole in goal before finishing well from a tight angle.

Both teams had chances as time continued but could not make them count and were left to take a point each from the encounter.

Woden-Weston will now head down to Nijong Oval to face Tigers and get their top four campaign back on track, while the Rhinos will have the week off with a bye.

 

Canberra FC 1 (Daniel Barac 28’) def. by Monaro Panthers 3 (Josh Gulevski 43’, 54’, 90+2’)

Monaro Panthers surged clear in third place on the table with an upset 3-1 win over Canberra FC at Deakin on Sunday afternoon thanks to a hat-trick from Josh Gulevski.

The Panthers scored three straight through Gulevski after going behind to a Daniel Barac strike to move four points clear of the pack of teams in fourth spot.

Barac was sent through towards goal just before the half hour mark, and lofted a delicate chip with the outside of his boot over the advancing keeper and in to give his side the lead.

But the lead didn’t last until half time as Gulevski was played in down the left. He cut back inside and although his initial shot was blocked, he regained possession and slotted home into the far corner to restore parity at the break.

Eight minutes into the second half Daniel Subasic attempted to shepherd the ball out only to have it stolen, and the ball was squared to Gulevski at the top of the area to fire home and put the Panthers ahead with plenty of time to play.

Gulevski added the sealer in stoppage time as Niko Kalfas was sent through towards goal and he drew the goalkeeper before squaring the ball unselfishly for Gulevski to tap home from close range.

The Panthers will next week host Gungahlin United at Riverside Stadium on the Saturday night, while Canberra FC head to McKellar Park to take on Belconnen United.

 

Tuggeranong United 3 (Aisosa Ihegie 66’, 72’, Eddie Coggan 87’) def. Gungahlin United 2 (Nick Rathjen 5’, Michael John 36’)

Tuggeranong caused a boilover on Sunday afternoon, coming back from two goals down against Gungahlin United to steal all three points in the dying minutes.

Nick Rathjen and Michael John had put Gungahlin two goals to the good, but a brace from Aisosa Ihegie and Eddie Coggan’s late winner ensured Tuggeranong dragged themselves right back into the fight for a finals position.

The visitors took an early lead through Rathjen, when the ball fell perfectly to him on the edge of the area after John’s strike was blocked and he drove it well into the corner.

John turned scored with nine minutes left in the half, linking up with Zac Barbatano before curling a lovely effort over the keeper and into the top corner to put Gungahlin up by two at the break.

Tuggeranong pulled their first goal back with 24 minutes to play through Ihegie; he was first to head home the rebound after an initial effort rocketed off the crossbar and back into play and six minutes later he grabbed his second after being sent through on goal and slotting the ball into the corner.

That set the game up for a dramatic finish and Coggan delivered it, bodying an opponent off the ball before slipping by a number of defenders and firing home the winner to bring his side right back into the top four battle.

Tuggeranong now sit one point off Gungahlin in fourth and take on Canberra Olympic next weekend, with Gungahlin set to visit Monaro on Saturday night.