Article: Lachlan Roberts
Photo: Anthony Caffery Photography

Monaro Panthers vs Tuggeranong United | Saturday, 22nd August – 5:30pm @ Riverside Football Stadium 
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Round Six of NPL1 action kicks-off at Riverside Football Stadium as Monaro Panthers host the resurgent Tuggeranong United. The Panthers are still licking their wounds after suffering a comprehensive 4-0 defeat at the hands of Belconnen United last Saturday. With two matches to go before the competition splits into the top and bottom four, the Panthers sit in seventh place on three points, six points away from the fourth-placed Tigers, their top-four hopes all but faded away. The Panthers will now focus on playing for pride, desperate to show they deserve to be recognised as one of the strong teams in the NPL1. A win against Tuggeranong could all but end their rivals hopes for a top-four finish, so the home side will look to replicate their 4-1 win the last time these two faced each other at Riverside. After conceding nine goals in their first two matches of the 2020 NPL1 season, it looked the writing was on the wall for Tuggeranong United. But since their 5-1 defeat to Canberra Olympic on the 29th of July, the side has claimed seven points from a possible nine, capped off with an upset win over defending champions Gungahlin United last Sunday. Marco Gayer arguably played the best game of his Tuggeranong career, scoring the winner and providing an assist for United's other goal. It might be a surprise to some, but Tuggeranong sits in fifth place, just two points behind the fourth-placed Tigers. What could hamper their finals aspirations is their goal difference, which is minus-5, so a strong win against the Panthers would be an almighty boost to their finals chances.

Canberra Olympic vs Gungahlin United | Saturday, 22nd August – 7:15pm @ Melrose Synthetic 
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Clear your Saturday night plans because we have what could turn out to be the match of the season at Melrose Synthetic. In a blink of an eye, Canberra Olympic's season turned on its head. After conceding two late goals to Canberra Croatia in Round 4, the Tigers put four past Rory Larkin in a dominant display at O'Connor Enclosed, leaving their finals aspirations in tatters. Now sitting in sixth place, last year's premiers are three points behind Tigers FC, who face the winless Woden Weston this weekend. Olympic will now have to win their remaining two fixtures, starting with Gungahlin United and hope results go their way. Defeating the defending champions, who are smarting from a shock 2-1 loss to Tuggeranong, is a must for Robbie Cattanach's side.  Marcial Munoz made seven changes to his side for their game against Tuggeranong and it came back to bite them, so expect a full-strength side to take to the field on Saturday night. The club will be without Ross Constanzo, who will miss the rest of the season after receiving a four-week suspension for referee abuse, and will be sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Joshua Lagudah, who was a late out in their loss to Tuggeranong after picking up an injury in the warmup. For the second match in a row, United wasted a plethora of chances in front of goal and was punished for their wastefulness. Munoz will want to make sure they show more of a killer instinct against Olympic, a side they lost to twice last year. 

Tigers FC vs Woden Weston | Sunday, 23rd August – 3pm @ Nijong Oval 
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After two matches away from home, Tigers return to their beloved Nijong Oval to take on a Woden Weston side looking to win their first points of the season. The Tigers will be full of confidence after their 4-1 demolition of Canberra Olympic last Saturday, knowing full well that they are in the driver's seat for the spot in the finals. Mark Shield's is back to his best, scoring three goals in his last three games, while Sam Whithear has also been a shining light in Ryan Grogan's side, scoring another solo belter against Olympic. A win against Woden Weston and a finals spot is within their grasp, so Tigers don't want to complacent against the bottom-placed Wanderers. Woden Weston has struggled in the 2020 NPL1 season, but they will be mightily relieved to have broken their goalless duck last weekend against Canberra Croatia. Their only goal this season came from the boot of defender Chris Mcewan, as Ulisses Da Silva's side struggles to find a winning combination upfront. For the fifth straight game this season, the Wanderers have conceded inside the opening 20 minutes, so a strong start away from home in the shivering cold of Cooma is a must. 

Canberra Croatia vs Belconnen United | Sunday, 23rd August – 3:15pm @ Deakin Stadium 
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Round 5 of NPL1 action wraps up at Deakin Stadium on Sunday afternoon as first-placed Canberra Croatia host third-placed Belconnen United in a mouthwatering clash. Croatia is the only undefeated side this season, claiming four wins and a draw from their five games, while on the other side of the pitch, Belconnen has only one blemish to their season, with that loss coming at the hands of Gungahlin United. A win for Canberra Croatia would ensure the premiership trophy is heading to Deakin in 2020, but Belconnen will surely have a say in the matter. The match will also see Paul Macor return to Deakin Stadium for the first time since he led Canberra FC on a treble-winning season in 2018, so there are headlines everywhere you look. Both sides come into the match with solid wins under their belts, as both sides scored four goals last weekend, so confidence will be sky-high. Dean Ugrinic's men will be hoping to rectify last year's results against Belconnen United, a side they lost to twice (3-2, 2-1).