Tigers FC 4 (Jose DeFilippi 30’, Nic Abot 37’, 47’, Jared Tonini 73’) def. Riverina Rhinos 1 (Own Goal 46’)

Tigers FC moved six points clear at the top of the league with a dominant win over the Rhinos in Cooma in round five.

They grabbed their first goal after 30 minutes as Jose DeFilippi had his initial penalty saved well by Mitchell Woods, but was first to the follow-up and knocked it home. Seven minutes later Nico Abot continued his incredible form with his first goal, converting a penalty on the first go to register his eighth goal of the season. That two-goal lead remained at the break, with Tigers doing most of the attacking through the first 45 minutes.

The Rhinos were given a lifeline back into the game just moments into the second half though as their early pressure told. A cross from the right side was intercepted by Jared Tonini but it looped up and over Jakob Cole to nestle in his own net and halve the deficit. That lasted but a moment though, as DeFilippi was released down the left hand side and he crossed in for Abot to head home his second goal of the afternoon and Tigers’ third. There was still time for Tonini to redeem himself later in the half when he raced onto a long ball from a free-kick and chipped the ball over the correct goalkeeper and into the net to seal the score line at 4-1.

Now with a six-point lead at the top, Tigers can watch next round as they sit out with the bye, while the Rhinos will welcome Canberra FC to Griffith, still looking for a first win of the campaign.

 

Gungahlin United 1 (Jeremy Habtemariam 33’)drew. Belconnen United 1 (Taylor Beaton 26’)

By Rhyan Misner

Gungahlin and Belconnen United shared the points on Sunday afternoon at the AIS, playing out a thoroughly entertaining 1-1 draw.

Both sides were coming into the game in strong form following Gungahlin’s dominant victory over Monaro, and Belconnen’s 3-2 win over Canberra FC the week previous, and this had the makings of a great attacking affair.

Belconnen started the spritelier of the two, Dustin Wells firing over from a well-connected volley just inside the box, and minutes later Jacob Garner hit his strike straight at Josh Lagudah after a buccaneering run from the right sideline.

The game didn’t have to wait long for its first goal and it came in the 26th minute, a low driven cross from the right side was spilled by Lagudah into the path of Taylor Beaton who slotted the ball calmly into the net.

Gungahlin responded shortly after when Jeremy Habtemariam decided to strike from range, striking a ferocious effort into the top corner of the net from just outside the box to bring his team level.

The free-flowing football didn’t end there with   Beaton having the chance to double his tally after he was found by Dustin Wells from the edge of the box, only to have his shot smothered by Lagudah at close range.

The teams went into the halftime break even in a back and forth game showing plenty of promise for the second half.

Gungahlin troubled early in the second half, Misko Naumoski’s beautifully struck shot was destined for the top left corner, only to be denied by a stunning stop from Finn Jurak.

The landscape of the match soon changed though, when Gungahlin’s Zachary Barbatano was played through into the box and was brought down by the rushing Jurak, and the referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot.

The Belconnen goalkeeper’s ensuing protests saw the referee issue him with a temporary dismissal, forcing Sam Whithear to replace him.

Amazingly the stand in goalkeeper kept out Habtemariam’s penalty, decisively diving down to his right to push the ball away.

The latter stage of the match produced chances for both sides, with neither being able to land the knockout blow and claim three vital points.

 

Canberra FC 4 (Jason Ugrinic 11’, 73’, Matthew Waters 24’, Daniel Barac 89’) def. Woden-Weston 1 (Alex Oloriegbe 78’)

Canberra FC picked up their second league win of the season as two goals in either half helped them to a 4-1 victory over Woden-Weston.

It took just 11 minutes for the hosts to find the lead when Daniel Barac drove towards the byline before cutting the ball back for Jason Ugrinic to tuck home his first goal of the campaign. Luka Ujdur’s side seemed to be riding the momentum from their midweek win over Canberra Olympic in the FFA Cup and 12 minutes after the first they had a second, Barac again providing the assist but this time laying it on for Matthew Waters to score.

The Wanderers started the second half stronger and looked to make up ground, but their cause was dented nearly twenty minutes in when Lucas Mauragis was able to break down the left and beat his defender into the area. He slipped the ball across and a defender could only manage an air-swing before it reached Ugrinic who swept it home once more. Five minutes later Woden-Weston got one back through Alex Oloriegbe when he snuck his penalty inside the post and past the outstretched arms of Sam Brown, but the comeback was not to be and Daniel Barac sealed a three-goal victory in the dying minutes, collecting a cross in the area and firing it home.

Canberra FC travel to Griffith to face the Rhinos next Saturday, while Woden-Weston will host Gungahlin.

 

Canberra Olympic 1 (Nik Popovich 28’) def. by Monaro Panthers 3 (Joshua Gulevski 15’, 64’, Michael Rinaudo 82’)

A double from Josh Gulevski against his former club helped Monaro to a much-needed win over Canberra Olympic on Sunday afternoon.

Monaro started strongly and were on the board inside a quarter of an hour through Gulevski, who stole the ball from Nathan Megic on the edge of his own penalty box and smashed it home to put them in front.

The lead lasted all of 13 minutes though before Olympic hit back through Nik Popovich. A shot from well outside the area cannoned off the frame of goal but Popovich had followed it in and was first to the loose ball, beating the keeper to slip the ball home and restore parity which remained at the break.

But Gulevski put his team back ahead almost 20 minutes into the second half, striking a square ball first-time at the edge of the area and curling it past Rory Larkin into the top corner.

And Michael Rinaudo sealed the victory inside the final 10 minutes at O’Connor as he slid in near the back post to finish off a well-worked team move on the break.

The win moves Monaroup to fifth spot, just three points out of second and one behind third spot, while Olympic remain in second place, now six points behind Tigers FC but with a game in hand.