PLAYSTATION 4 NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUES: CANBERRA
MATCHDAY 16

Saturday 30th July
FFA COE 4 (Mark Moric 12’, Mirza Muratovic 38’, 88’, John Roberts 78’) Monaro Panthers 1 (Mark Shields 54’)
(AIS)

The FFA COE made a victorious return to PS4 NPL action with a 4-1 win over Monaro Panthers on a cool Saturday afternoon at the Australian Institute of Sport. Goals from Mark Moric, a double from Mirza Muratovic and an eighth of the season from John Roberts was more than enough to see off the Panthers. 

Fresh from their success at the AFF U16 Championships, the FFA COE swept onto the attack from the off and took the game to the Panthers, utilising the width and the pace of the AIS grass field to their advantage as they stretched the opposition with every foray. And their bright start was duly rewarded in only the twelfth minute with the opening goal of the game.

The Panthers failed to adequately deal with a lofted free-kick into the danger area and, as Caleb Cullen-Rua half-cleared, the ball fell kindly for Moric lurking at the far post and the striker’s finish was emphatic, blasting a half volley beyond the diving Nathan Alferink in the Panthers goal. Shortly after Melad Ahmed went close to adding a second as the FFA COE threatened again.

For their part, Monaro were sporadic in their counter-attacking, reduced to long range efforts with Ed McCarthy and Alan Murphy trying their luck from range but to little avail and, as a result, FFA COE goalkeeper Matthew Sutton was left with very little to do.

There was a second for the home side before the interval and it was a beautifully crafted moment. Winger Muratovic had been a constant threat from his position wide on the right and his burst infield allowed him to swap passes with the energetic Moric. Moric’s return ball, a back-heel that drew two Panthers defenders in, was brilliantly weighted and Muratovic burst onto it to clip a sublime finish over the advancing Alferink.

Monaro halved the deficit early in the second half with a quality goal of their own. Ed McCarthy created it with a lofted pass to the back post which was brought down by Mark Shields and dispatched with venom past Sutton from an acute angle. But any hopes of a comeback were dealt a terminal blow twelve minutes from time. 

Muratovic created the game-sealer, springing a flimsy looking Panthers offside trap to square across the face of goal where Roberts was on hand to calmly lift a finish past the exposed Alferink. Muratovic himself finished off the match late on, rounding off a swift counter-attack by committing Alferink, skipping past the goalkeeper and shooting into the net off the base of the far post. 

FFA COE: 1. Matthew SUTTON, 4. Kaleb COX, 5. Joel KING, 6. Kai TREWIN, 9. John ROBERTS, 11. Mirza MURATOVIC, 14. Rahmat AKBARI, 16. Ben OBST, 19. Mark MORIC, 21. Melad AHMED, 23. Marc TOKICH
Substitutes used: 2. James FLETCHER, 17. Louis D’ARRIGO, 22. Jaidon SELDON
Monaro Panthers: 21. Nathan ALFERINK, 3. Jarrad BAIN, 4. Thomas HEWITT, 5. Chris RUIZ, 6. Alan MURPHY, 7. Daniel FELLIZZI, 10. Mark SHIELDS, 12. Tony SPASESKI, 13. Ed MCCARTHY, 16. Lachlan HUNTER, 20. Caleb CULLEN-RUA
Substitutes used: 9. Ohio ASIKHA, 14. Martin DENG, 17. Michael PICCOLO
YELLOW CARDS: 5. Chris RUIZ, 6. Alan MURPHY (Monaro Panthers)
RED CARDS: Nil

Woden-Weston FC 2 (Matthew Waters 1’, Goran Milutinovic 72’) Tuggeranong United 0
(Woden Park)

Woden-Weston FC earned the bragging rights from the Southside derby as they downed Tuggeranong United 2-0 at Woden Park to claim only their third win of the season and close the gap on those above them in the table. Strikes from Matthew Waters and Goran Milutinovic did for their near neighbours in a clash that saw both teams end with ten men following dismissals for Adam De Franceschi and United’s Daniel Roberts.

The match got off to a lightning start as Woden-Weston FC took the lead after only forty seconds had elapsed. The home team won possession of the ball in midfield and released Waters out onto the right wing. The classy midfielder cut onto his left and raced clear showing admirable composure to keep his head when bearing down on goal, calmly finishing for his fifth goal of the season.

If Woden were grateful for the perfect start, they were left distraught when they were reduced to ten men as De Franceschi saw red for a lunge on Tuggeranong’s Greek forward Nikolaos Kalfas who threatened to break clear. Kalfas, who was Tuggeranong’s most potent threat, nearly levelled the contest on the stroke of half-time when his thunderous effort clattered back off the crossbar.

With a  numerical advantage, Tuggeranong would have expected to kick-on, but the match was squared up on that front when Roberts was dismissed for a second yellow card offence midway through the second stanza to leave the match ten on ten and delicately poised. Woden-Weston however responded the better and they managed to score the game clinching second with twenty minutes to go.

Tuggeranong pressed for an equaliser and were caught on the counter as man of the match Waters released a perfectly weighted pass into the path of the onrushing Milutinovic who lamped a vicious drive across Josh Lagudah in the Tuggeranong goal and into the far corner to complete a memorable win for the hosts. 

Woden-Weston FC: 1. Josh WADE, 2. Bradley OLIVERA, 3. Adam DE FRANCESCHI, 
6. Ben GRIEG, 7. Matthew WATERS, 8. Jarryd CLIFTON, 9. Daniel DI-SALVATORE, 12. Tim DEHELEAN, 13. Roy ROMEO, 14. Arok THON, 16. Goran MILUTINOVIC
Substitutes used: 11. Daniel GRAHAM, 15. Reuben OWUSU
Tuggeranong United: 1. Josh LAGUDAH, 4. Jack GRADY, 5. Jacob AYUEL, 6. Aiodan BEATMAN,  7. Nikoloas KALFAS, 8. Daniel ROBERTS, 9. Aaron CASHMAN, 10. Emilio KISTA, 13. Tim ANDERSON, 14. Andrew SLAVICH, 15. Liam HIGHMORE
Substitutes used: 2. Cameron DOHERTY, 3. Dom SZRAKITY, 11. Marco GAYER
YELLOW CARDS: 9. Aaron CASHMAN, 10. Emilio KISTA, 11. Marco GAYER (Tuggeranong United)
RED CARDS: 3. Adam DE FRANCESCHI (Woden-Weston FC), 8. Daniel ROBERTS (Tuggeranong United)

CU Academy 2 (Joshua Gulevski 3’, Pat O’Rourke 20’) Canberra Olympic 6 (Robbie Cattanach 31’, Adam Rogic 33’, Philippe Bernabo-Madrid 52’, 53’, 77’, Adam Neou 82’)
(Hawker Football Centre)

By William Bremner

Hawker Football Centre hosted an entertaining encounter between CU Academy and Canberra Olympic. For the hosts it was an opportunity to measure their progress against one of the form teams in the competition and for the visitors a win would see them on track for the champions title and would allow them a competitive warm up prior to their important FFA cup match in midweek. In the end the class of Olympic proved too much for the Academy as they ran out 6-2 winners but it could have been oh so different given the start the hosts made. 

It took only three minutes for Joshua Gulevski to break the deadlock. A penetrating run and clinical finish caught the visitor’s cold and gave the Academy the perfect start. It was to get worse for the defending premiers on twenty minutes when Pat O'Rourke beat the offside trap and made it two. Olympic had shown enough between the goals to indicate they weren't out of the fight but Coach Frank Cachia would have been disappointed with the sleepy start. Indeed United might have done better on a couple of occasions when they found themselves in good positions beyond Olympics last line but could not provide the final pass that might have resulted in greater reward. 

Enter Robbie Cattanach. On 31 minutes Olympic were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area. Cattanach thundered a right foot pile driver high into the left hand side of the net leaving young keeper Sam Brown grasping at fresh air. Before that both he and Phillipe Bernabo-Madrid had chances to get on the score sheet but fluffed their respective lines. If Cattanach made up for his miss with the free kick Bernabo-Madrid would have to wait until the second half to trouble the scorers but he would do so with some style. 

Adam Rogic brought Olympic level when he squeezed home from inside the box on 33 minutes. Just before the break Cattanach drove powerfully from the edge of the penalty area bringing a full length diving save from Brown. In almost the next counter attack the home team broke through only to miss a presentable chance. 2-2 at half time and the small crowd could be well pleased with the fare on offer. 

As a contest the second half was a little disappointing as the power and clinical finishing of the visitors was too much for the young United side to handle. Barely seven minutes in Bernabo-Madrid got the first of what would be a terrific hat-trick. His cool finish when one on one with Brown was a lesson in finishing from a high quality player. A minute later he added his second and his team’s fourth when latching on to a wonderful Cattanach pass. He finished his hat trick on 77 minutes having single-handedly destroyed United with his finishing. Young substitute Adam Neou scored his first PS4 NPL goal with his first touch bundling over from close range and with that Olympic banked the three points that keeps them in touch with the Tigers and turned their attention to the last 32 of the Westfield FFA Cup. 

CU Academy: 1. Sam BROWN, 4. Antoni TIMOTHEOU, 6. Patrick O’ROURKE, 7. Joshua GULEVSKI, 8. Adrian MACOR, 11. Tomas KRKLEC, 14. Niko UJDUR, 15. Lachlan GRIFFITHS, 16. Bul JUACH, 17. Tony MADDAFARI, 20. David CARDER
Substitutes used: 3. Leo MAZIS, 9. Sam WHITHEAR, 12. Nicolas FELIZZI
Canberra Olympic: 20. Angelo KONSTANTINOU, 2. Tim BOBOLAS, 5. Phil YARNOLD, 6. Jeremy HABTEMARIAM, 7. Pat ROSS-MAGEE, 8. Bernard RENE, 9. Philippe BERNABO-MADRID, 10. Robbie CATTANACH, 12. Adam ROGIC, 22. Oliver WIEDERKEHR, 23. Nathen MEGIC
Substitutes used: 15. Tom MCLACHLAN, 16. Adam NEOU, 18. Jordan TSEKENIS
YELLOW CARDS: 1. Sam BROWN (CU Academy), 9. Philippe BERNABO-MADRID, 10. Robbie CATTANACH (Canberra Olympic)
RED CARDS: Nil

Sunday 31st July
Tigers FC 3 (Nahuel Guerrero 21’, Nicolas Abot 73’, Stephen Domenici 75’ (pen)) Canberra FC 1 (Ryan Keir 3’)
(Nijong Oval)

Tigers FC continued their march towards what they hope will be championship glory as they defeated Canberra FC 3-1 and eft the visitors with the likelihood of ending the season in fourth place. The Tigers overturned an early 0-1 deficit to claim the win which keeps them three points ahead of Canberra Olympic who still have the game in hand. 

Canberra FC got off to an absolute flier making the perfect start to what was a must-win match for the visitors by taking the lead after only three minutes. Winning a corner, Ivan Pavlak floated over a terrific cross that was met by a forceful header from Ryan Keir that flashed past Jakob Cole and into the net. It set the scene for an exciting afternoon of football.

Both teams were intent on getting a grip on proceedings and chances were created at both ends of the field. The league leaders, needing a response to falling behind, got one when they equalised with twenty-one minutes on the clock. Canberra FC failed to adequately deal with a ball into the penalty area and, following a goalmouth scramble, defensive lynchpin Nahuel Guerrero was on hand to slot home the leveller.

The match settled into a steady rhythm following the equaliser with both midfields battling hard to try and gain supremacy and create an opportunity for the star-studded forwards that littered the field at both ends of the pitch. But, despite this eclectic mix of goalscoring talent, it was the defences that held sway and the teams went into the changing rooms at half-time all-square at 1-1. 

The second half was much of the same but it was the Tigers who eventually made the breakthrough, sealing the points, and taking a huge step towards winning the league championship crown with a brace of goals within two minutes of each other. Nicolas Abot took a while to get going this season but is now proving why he was such an astute acquisition with his thirteenth goal of the season in the 73rd minute.

Two minutes later Tigers were awarded a penalty for an infringement in the penalty area and leading scorer Stephen Domenici stepped up to calmly notch his 22nd goal of the season and secure a monumental three points for Gaby Wilk and his team who are edging ever closer to a repeat of their 2014 triumph. 

Tigers FC: 1. Jakob COLE, 2. Nahuel GUERREO, 3. Milan POPOVICH, 4. Ala MOBEDI, 5. Dejan SANTRAC, 6. Brad MOORE, 7. Julian BORGNA, 9. Daniel BARAC, 10. Nicolas ABOT, 11. Osman FOFANAH, 17. Stephen DOMENICI
Substitutes used: 8. Jeremias IBARRA
Canberra FC: 1. Rory LARKIN, 3. Thomas MILICEVIC, 5. Izach CLEMENTS, 6. Ryan KEIR, 8. Ian GRAHAM, 9. Thomas JAMES, 10. Dominic GIAMPAOLO, 11. Ivan PAVLAK, 17. Aidan BRUNSKILL, 20. Alex OLORIEGBE, 21. Nikola BARISIC
Substitutes used: 15. Jordan LAMB, 16. Ross COSTANZO
YELLOW CARDS: 11. Osman FOFANAH (Tigers FC), 8. Ian GRAHAM (Canberra FC)
RED CARDS: 3. Thomas MILICEVIC (Canberra FC)

Gungahlin United 2 (Regan Walsh 12’, Nathan Duck 83’) Belconnen United 4 (Matt Grbesa 25’, Dustin Wells 52’, Nikolas Popovich 90’, Aisosa Ihegie 90+6’)
(Nicholls Enclosed)

By David Jordan

An extraordinary final five minutes at Nicholls saw Belconnen United maintain their slim hopes of the Championship as they finished 4-2 winners over Gungahlin United. Goals in the 90th and 96th minutes from Belconnen saw them pull off an improbable victory after a see-sawing encounter threatened to end in a draw.
 
The Blue Devils looked the better side in the early minutes of the match, however the home side slowly began to work their way back into the game, and took a deserved lead after just 12 minutes as Marcial Munoz poked the ball home from close range. But just 13 minutes later Belconnen restored parity, as Matt Grbesa fought to get the last touch on Dustin Wells free-kick into the box and direct the ball past Jason Denham in the Gungahlin goal.
 
The visitors had a great chance to take the lead four minutes later as Conor Nolan seemingly strolled through on goal, but was thwarted by a great 1-on-1 save from Denham. Wells smacked the crossbar with a free kick on the stroke of half-time but the sides went into the break locked at 1-1 as an entertaining second 45 beckoned. Belconnen needed only seven minutes to take the lead, with Wells involved again. A set piece was again the setting, but this time Wells made no mistake as he slotted home his strike past Denham to go ahead. 
 
With Belconnen looking likely to kick further ahead, Gungahlin needed to chase the game, and five minutes from time found parity as Nathan Duck curled home a loose ball from just inside the box. Marcial Munoz hit the bar for Gungahlin with a curling free kick, before Belconnen raced off on the counter towards the other end. Speed machine Aisosa Ihegie picked up the ball out wide and darted into the box, and his perfect low cross found Popovich to slide home the winner for the Blue Devils.
 
Incredibly, the visitors weren’t finished as Ihegie picked off an errant square pass on halfway in the final minute of stoppage time before racing the length of the half to seal an incredible victory.

Gungahlin United: 1. Jason DENHAM, 2. Alex MOSCARITOLO, 3. David DEXTER, 7. Regan WALSH, 8. Lachlan ATKINSON, 10. Marcial MUNOZ, 12. Mitch STEENBERGEN, 13. Matt TARNAWSKYI, 14. Liam WALSH, 15. David JENKINS, 16. Jack GREEN
Substitutes used: 9. Nathan DUCK, 11, Rowan BLAKE
Belconnen United: 1. Adam PERAKOVIC, 3. Dustin WELLS, 4. Matt GRBESA, 7. Taylor BEATON, 8. Conor NOLAN, 9. Sam SMITH, 10. Jason UGRINIC, 16. Matt VALERI, 17. Toby RICHTER, 18. Nicholas DAHL, 19. Nikolas POPOVICH
Substitutes used: 5. Louie POCHI, 11. Goran MUKEVSKI, 12. Aisosa IHEGIE
YELLOW CARDS: 7. Regan WALSH, 10. Marcial MUNOZ (Gungahlin United), 7. Taylor BEATON, 18. Nicholas DAHL (Belconnen United)
RED CARDS: Nil

TABLE

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LEADING SCORERS 
22 Stephen DOMENICI (Tigers FC)
13 Nicolas ABOT (Tigers FC)
12 Jason UGRINIC (Belconnen United)
11 Thomas JAMES (Canberra FC), Philippe BERNABO-MADRID (Canberra Olympic)
9 Joshua GULEVSKI (CU Academy)
8 John ROBERTS (FFA COE)
7 Sam SMITH (Belconnen United), Domenic GIAMPAOLO (Canberra FC)
6 Aisosa IHEGIE, Dustin WELLS (Belconnen United), Daniel BARAC (Tigers FC)
5 Jordan TSEKENIS (Canberra Olympic), Rahmat AKBARI (FFA COE), Nikolaos KALFAS (Tuggeranong United), Matthew WATERS (Woden-Weston FC)
4 Josip JADRIC (Canberra FC), Jeremy HABTEMARIAM (Canberra Olympic), Bul JUACH, Tomas KRKLEC, Sam WHITHEAR (CU Academy), Mark MORIC, Mirza MURATOVIC (FFA COE), Ed MCCARTHY, Mark SHIELDS (Monaro Panthers), Bryce BAFFORD, Jaidon SELDON (FFA COE), Andrew SLAVICH (Tuggeranong United), Own GOALS
3 Nikolas POPOVICH (Belconnen United), Ivan PAVLAK (Canberra FC), Robbie CATTANACH (Canberra Olympic), Daniel FABRIZIO (CU Academy), Louis D’ARRIGO (FFA COE), Mitch STEENBERGEN (Gungahlin United), Darian MCGARRY-WATSON (Monaro Panthers), Nahuel GUERRERO, Alex OLORIEGBE, Dejan SANTRAC (Tigers FC), Marco GAYER (Tuggeranong United), Goran MILUTNOVIC (Woden-Weston FC)
2 Jonathan REIS*, Toby RICHTER (Belconnen United), Nikola BARISIC, Ryan KEIR (Canberra FC), Daniel COLBERTALDO, Nathen MEGIC (Canberra Olympic), Niko UJDUR (CU Academy), Jacob ITALIANO, Ben OBST, Marc TOKICH (FFA COE), Nathan DUCK, Alex MOSCARITOLO, Marcial  MUNOZ, Liam WALSH (Gungahlin United), Daniel FELIZZI, Sam ROESTBAKKEN (Monaro Panthers), Jeremias IBARRA (Tigers FC), Domenic COLUCCIELLO, Emilio KISTA (Tuggeranong United), Bensah AFIABO, Daniel DI-SALVATORE (Woden-Weston FC)
1 Taylor BEATON, Matt GRBESA, David KEMP, Goran MUKEVSKI, Cameron REINHART (Belconnen United), Aidan BRUNSKILL, Izach CLEMENTS, Robbie DEELEY, Kye EDWARDS, Ian GRAHAM, Misko NAUMOSKI (Canberra FC), Tim BOBOLAS, Angelo KONSTANTINOU, Tom MCLACHLAN, Adam NEOU, Michael REEVE, Adam ROGIC, Oliver WIEDERKEHR, Victor YANES (Canberra Olympic), Mate BARISIC, David CARDER, Nicolas FELIZZI, Lachlan GRIFFITHS, Ridwan HANNAN, Tony MADAFFARI, Patrick O’ROURKE (CU Academy), Lachlan BROOK (FFA COE), Frano BLAZEVIC, Jack GREEN, Christian JUNNA, Jason O’DWYER, Regan WALSH (Gungahlin United), Martin DENG, Michael PICCOLO (Monaro Panthers), Tim ANDERSON (Tuggeranong United), Julian BORGNA, Osman FOFANAH, Alan GASTON, Goran JOSIFOVSKI, Milan POPOVICH (Tigers FC), Sam SHADBOLT Tuggeranong United), Tim DEHELEAN, Ben GRIEG, Tom HIRST (Woden-Weston FC)

*1 goal for Tuggeranong United

Photo: Lawrence Atkin