Article: Jeremy Magan
Photo: Anthony Caffery Photography

Belconnen United 2 (Rasschaert 67’, Maguire 81’) defeated Canberra Olympic 1 (Cook 77’)

The Blue Devils bounced back with character a week after their loss in Deakin, defeating Canberra Olympic 2-1 at Hawker Football Centre. The main news out of the Olympic camp before the game came from the infirmary: Ash Sykes was out with a sprained ankle and Angelica Pahina with a torn rotator cuff. It gave Abigail Stanton, the 17-year-old goalkeeper, her first start with Olympic, and she took the opportunity to shine! The Blue Devils were the first to be dangerous, but Stanton stayed vigilant facing Thornton and Forner's shots from outside the box, while her defence was able to clear away the series of corner kick they conceded. Emma Guo almost took advantage of a loose ball in Belconnen's defence, but McGovern kicked the ball away on her line. Unfortunately for the home side, they would lose Forner at the end of the first half to a knee injury.

The second half started with Andrew Woodman's players pressing higher and trying to find Nicole Begg in space. She found herself in the box early on and her beautiful cut back pass found Louise Kockum whose shot was well placed but Jess Giovinazzo's save was first class. Belconnen slowly took back control of the game, still without bringing any real danger in their opponents’ box. The first goal of the game came at the 66th minute, with the trusty head of Jessie Rasschaert finding the back of the net from a corner. Olympic pushed to get an equaliser but left space in their defence and Belconnen could have scored a second goal if it weren’t for Stanton's sure hands. With 12 minutes left to play, Nicole Begg won a free-kick just outside the box and the resulting free-kick from Ally Cook deflected off the wall and found the back of the net. Michaela Thornton's response was immediate with a freekick of her own seconds later crashing on Stanton’s crossbar. Belconnen kept pushing and three minutes later, Nicole Jalocha, maybe the best Blue Devil on Saturday, timed her through ball perfectly to find Jasmine Maguire in the box. Her powerful left-shot left Stanton helpless and sealed the victory for the reigning champions.

Canberra Croatia 4 (Field 22’, Gill 40’, Palombi 52’, 60’) defeated Tuggeranong United 0

We have our league unofficial Premier! With their seventh wins in as many games, Canberra Croatia secured the top spot on the ladder! Their win against Tuggeranong, however, was not as easy as the scoresheet looked. The first half, although dominated by the home side, saw the Tuggies with a few opportunities to take the lead. In the first 10 minutes, Ally Hinson had to face Maddie Magee twice. The first time, Emma Stanbury timed her ball perfectly to find her striker in the box. Magee’s shot had Hinson beat but landed on her right post. A few minutes later, a ball Hinson could not clear landed at Magee’s feet and Alice Churchill’s tackle prevented the visitors from scoring first. Just before the 20 minute mark, Furlanetto found herself in the box, facing Hinson alone, but her powerful shot curled over the crossbar. Canberra Croatia made the visitors pay their lack of efficiency in front of goals minutes later. Chao found Palombi at the edge of the box, who just tapped the ball back for Grace Field, whose shot landed perfectly at the near post. The Deakin side kept pushing and five minutes before half time, Sanzari’s goal kick clearance was read well by Cecilia Matic, who passed in front of her opponent to serve Grace Gill. Gill saw Sanzari ahead of her line and shot instantly from just outside the box. The ball perfectly found the top left corner and Gill scored one of the goals of the season. 

The second half saw Canberra Croatia taking over the game a bit more, and Tuggeranong showing signs of fatigue early. Two minutes into the second act, Sanzari released the ball in the box, Sharon Chao tried to take advantage of it, but the visitors’ keeper was quick on her feet and her dive on Chao’s feet delayed the third goal. Five minutes later, Brittany Palombi found Gill in the box, who was able to serve Palombi on her left, an opportunity the left-winger would not waste, finding the opposite side net with a strong strike. A debatable offside call denied Palombi her second goal, but she eventually got it a minute later. On her wing, she saw Sanzari off her line and attempted a lob from 35 meters away. Her long-range shot found the back of the net, and Palombi took her spot back at the top of the goal-scoring ladder with nine goals in seven games so far this season. The score would not change for the last 30 minutes, and Nik Brozinic secured his first minor premiership on his first Father’s Day.

Gungahlin United 3 (E Brown 32’, J Brown 34’, Miro 62) defeated Wagga City Wanderers 1 (Castle 66’)

Both Gungahlin United and Wagga City Wanderers were eager to bounce back at the Gungahlin Enclosed after losing to Woden Weston and Tuggeranong last week. Gungahlin had the final word and secured their semi-final bout against Belconnen. The game started well for the visitors, young left-winger Tess Vacccari finding herself in the Gunners’ box after a little bit more than a minute played. Her left shot unfortunately was off target, and her call for a penalty a minute later was denied by a well-placed referee. The Wanderers brought their usual intensity to the game and at first prevented Gungahlin from putting their feet on the ball and developing their passing game. The home team still slowly took control, and while they still allowed Wagga some opportunities, found the back of the net first. Just after the half-hour mark, Taniah Miro stole the ball in the midfield, ran towards the box and pushed the ball wide to Ella-Rose Brown. Brown’s beautiful drag-back eliminated the last defender and saw the ball on her left foot, and she beat Emms from close range. Gungahlin rode the momentum and two minutes later, Ruby Gambale’s perfectly timed through ball found Jade Brown facing Emm's one-on-one. The teenager did not hesitate and won her duel, celebrating her first goal of the season wholeheartedly. The two goals were a blow for Wagga, who arguably had the better of the opening half. 

The second half started like the first, with Tess Vaccari running toward the goal, trying to score from a narrow-angle, but Samantha Spice’s dive and deflection were the work of a great goalkeeper. Gungahlin took over again, as Miro scored the third goal for her team. She lost her duel to Emms, but got a lucky bounce and just had to push in the empty net. Wagga had nothing to lose anymore so they kept pushing forward. A few minutes later, Megan Castle found herself alone in Gungahlin’s box. Lejins chased her with too much enthusiasm and grabbed her arm just before she could shoot, leaving the referee with no choice. Castle converted the penalty herself, bringing hope back in the team. Unfortunately, the best opportunities in the last 15 minutes were for Gungahlin, and if it weren’t for a talented and inspired Samantha Emms, the score would have been more severe. The young Wanderer keeper prevented Brown, Aitolu, back after her calf injury last week, and De Marco from scoring a fourth goal.

Canberra United Academy 9 (S. Grove 2’, 33’, 75’, Hunt 19’, 22’, 50’, 74’, Christopherson 37’, Taylor-Young 46) defeated Monaro Panthers 0

The last game of the season for the Panthers provided no relief, conceded another severe defeat after losing two of their best players (Edwards and Hardwicke) to injuries in the first 10 minutes. Canberra United Academy, who needs results to go their way if they are to play Finals, took the game very seriously in front of the future coach Vicky Linton, present on the sidelines, and showed why they are still in the mix for the Finals. Sasha Grove wasted no time to score the first of her three goals of the day, two minutes into the game. She ran with the ball unchecked until she reached the box and took her chance from there, the ball finding the side netting. The Panthers found it difficult to develop their football without their captain Hardwicke while the Academy, focused and patient, kept bringing the danger in their box over and over. Anna Hunt scored two goals in three minutes around the 20 minutes mark to celebrate her comeback in the starting line-up, Sasha Grove scored her second of the afternoon 10 minutes later and Christopherson, always very active on her wing, added her name on the scoresheet, bringing the score to 5-0 at half time despite some solid saves by Panthers goalkeeper Josipovic.

The second half started the worst way possible for Paul Townsley’s players. A perfect through ball by Christopherson found Hayley Taylor-Young in the box 45 seconds after kick-off, and the Westfield W-League player finally found the back of the net this season, celebrated by her whole team. Hunt scored another two goals, at the 50^th and 74^th minute while the goal of the match came to Sasha Grove at the 75^th with a shot from outside the box in the top corner that ended Academy’s scoring festival. The win gives the Academy the right to still believe in a spot in the Finals, provided that Olympic loses to Tuggeranong while they beat Belconnen at Hawker next Sunday. The task is big, but not impossible for Scott O’Donell’s side.