NPL1 Round 9 Wrap
Tuggeranong United 3 (Aisosa Ihegie 38’, Edward Coggan 81’, Daniel Roberts 90+1’) def. Riverina Rhinos 0
By Rhyan Misner
Tuggeranong United claimed three crucial points in their round 9 clash with the Riverina Rhinos at Greenway, running out 3-0 winners in a convincing performance.
With the two sides 8th and 9th on the ladder respectively, it was a must win game for them both heading into the clash.
The game began in tentative fashion, neither side being able to gain any sort of continuity and control proceedings.
It was Tuggeranong goalkeeper Jakeb Wiseman who was tested first, getting down quickly to his right to palm away a well-struck freekick from Conor Earley.
Tuggeranong struggled to create any significant chances in the game until the 25th minute when a cross from Aisosa Ihegie was pulled back to Goran Mukevski who had his goal bound shot blocked.
The first half should’ve seen its first goal in the 36th minute when Ihegie fired a long-range effort that deflected into the path of Jono Turek, but he was thwarted with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Two minutes later the hosts took the lead when Ihegie took possession outside the box, dribbled past three defenders on his way to goal and then struck a left footed effort into the bottom corner to cap off his brilliant individual run.
After a first half where both teams toiled but neither dominated the ball or the chances, Tuggeranong headed into the sheds with the advantage.
The start of the second half mirrored that of the first, a back and forth affair with few clear chances and free flowing play.
Tuggeranong had two free kicks early, one that sailed well over and one that was saved by Adrian Montagner in the Rhinos goal.
Both Riverina and Tuggeranong made substitutes in the hope of changing their sides fortunes and gaining some ascendency.
One of those Tuggeranong substitutes had a vital impact in the 81st minute when a poor headed back pass was pounced on by Eddie Coggan. He took a touch around Montagner before firing into the far corner to double the lead.
The result was secured for Tuggeranong with time almost up when Coggan smartly played a low cross to Daniel Roberts inside the box who controlled and volleyed into the corner for Tuggeranong’s third.
Three goals and more importantly three points for Tuggeranong who closed to within a point of the top four ahead of a clash with ladder leaders Tigers next round.
For the Rhinos, they head to Monaro looking for their first points of the season at Riverside.
Monaro Panthers 1 (Josh Gulevski 67’) drew. Weston-Woden FC 1 (Own Goal 57’)
Monaro and Woden-Weston could not be separated at Riverside on Saturday night, sharing the points as the logjam on the edge of the top four grew bigger.
Key Moments |
Late opener: 57 minutes in the visitors were awarded a free-kick way out on the right wing, and Joe Lawless lumped it in towards the penalty spot. The ball didn’t find the head of a teammate but it did find the leg of Sam Roestbakken, and it ricocheted off the defender and into his own net to give Woden-Weston the lead.
Woodwork: Minutes later Lawless floated in another set piece and this time Martin Deng got his head to it, but could only find the crossbar before the ball bounced out of play.
Equaliser: A timely tackle broke up Woden-Weston’s attack going forward and the Panthers quickly went the other way. Josh Gulevski was played through and he cut inside his defender before firing home to restore parity for Monaro.
Next up |
Both teams will have the weekend off for the Cup Finals, before Monaro host the Riverina Rhinos in round 10 and Woden-Weston visit Belconnen United at McKellar Park.
Tigers FC 4 (Mark Shields 25’, 65’, 88’, Nico Abot 55’) def. Canberra Olympic 1 (Seb Woods 26’)
Tigers FC recorded a perfect bounce-back from last week’s loss to Gungahlin with a 4-1 victory over Canberra Olympic in Cooma on Sunday thanks to a hat-trick from Mark Shields.
Key moments |
Tigers strike first: Jared Tonini played a neat one-two with Nico Abot on the right before firing in a cross that Mark Shields turned into the back of the net.
The equaliser: Just a minute later Olympic pushed forward down the other end, and Stephen Domenici worked his away in from the right before finding Seb Woods to tap home at the back post.
Cole keeps it level: Olympic were awarded a penalty five minutes before the break, but Jakob Cole did well to dive to his left and save Domenici’s spot-kick, keeping scores level.
Abot puts Tigers ahead: 10 minutes into the second half a high ball gave Nick Faust some trouble, and under pressure he played a back pass that was picked off by Abot and fired home to put the hosts in front.
Shields seals hat-trick: Already up by a goal Tigers pushed ahead, and in the 66th minute Shields rattled home a thumping header from a corner to extend the lead, before Abot played him in as time wound down to finish across Rory Larkin and seal his hat-trick.
Next up |
Olympic take on Canberra FC in a rescheduled clash at Woden Park on Wednesday, while for Tigers their attention now turns to the FFA Cup Qualifying Final on Saturday against Canberra FC.
Gungahlin United 5 (Michael John 20’, 85’, Jack Green 56’, Jeremy Habtemariam 63’, Riley Angelosante 83’) def. Canberra FC 0
Gungahlin United leapt into outright third and rubber stamped their title credentials with a thumping 5-0 win against reigning champions Canberra FC at the AIS.
Key moments |
The opener: Michael John has been on fire for Gungahlin so far, and after receiving a great cross-field pass, he held it up for a moment before simply curling a shot into the far corner.
Visitors miss, hosts score: Down by a goal at the break Canberra FC had a great chance to equalise in the 55th minute only to see Daniel Colbertaldo’s free-kick strike the crossbar, and United set off down the other end where Jack Green stormed into the box to convert from a corner and double the lead.
The third: A lovely ball found Riley Angelosante in space and although his effort beat Sam Brown it was kept out by the post. But Gungahlin recycled the ball and came back down the right, and Jeremy Habtemariam did well to control a pass with his chest in the area before dinking a finish in for Gungahlin’s third.
Two in 2: John broke forward down the right and crossed for Riley Angelosante to score Gungahlin’s fourth, and not long after Angelosante turned provider, slipping in a through ball that John turned past Sam Brown to wrap up the scoring.
Next up |
United have an extended break over cup weekend and then the bye, while its action stations for Canberra FC. They take on traditional rivals Canberra Olympic at Woden Park on Wednesday in a rescheduled match, before facing Tigers FC for a spot in the FFA Cup on Saturday.
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