Tigers FC roar back from two goals down to secure a showdown with Monaro Panthers next weekend. Queanbeyan City, meanwhile, deliver a clinical victory over Tuggeranong United.
Read the reviews below:
Saturday 29 August
NPL Men’s U23s Semi Final
Monaro Panthers vs Canberra Juventus
Stryda Park
A tight first half at Stryda Park between Monaro Panthers and Canberra Juventus had both sides heading into the break level and goalless, and as the end of the second approached, the match looked set for extra-time.
Step forward Joseph Mikhael.
Brought on with just ten remaining, the substitute anticipated a headed pass into the box from Jayden Rippon, controlled well, before his effort looped into the back of the net via a deflection off Cameron Hodgins, to send Monaro through to the Preliminary Final.
Saturday 29 August
NPL Men’s U23s Semi Final
Queanbeyan City vs Tuggeranong United
Stryda Park
The game that followed saw Jydon Field take the early initiative on the goalscoring front for Tuggeranong United against Queanbeyan City, picking up on a loose pass from his opponents before finishing clinically into the bottom corner after 33 minutes.
The response was swift however, as off the back of a quality team move, Kristian Aleksic finished on the second attempt to make it 1-1 from close range.
With the score level at the break, a close second period saw the match headed for extra-time at the end of the 90.
Substitute Mark Richards made the telling contribution in the end, heading home from a Noah Prail corner kick, to see Tuggeranong clear of City and into the next round of finals football.
Saturday 29 August
NPL Men’s First Grade Semi Final
Tigers FC vs Canberra Juventus
Stryda Park
Having started the match on top, Canberra Juventus took a shock one-goal lead in the eighth minute against Tigers FC, as centre-back Kalani Harris headed home unmarked at the back post off the corner.
With just one strike all season in the NPL Men’s, Harris had soon added two goals to his tally, following another set piece, this time taken by Josh Gaspari, that was flicked on at the near post and into the path of the American.
Tigers had their chances in the opening 45 but failed to convert, leaving themselves with plenty of work to do in the second period against an opponent fully deserving of their lead.
Once play had resumed however, things were looking a lot different for Juventus.
50 minutes in, a tidy spin to see off two markers from Andrew Pawiak was followed by a pinpoint ball into the feet of David Owusu, who finished clinically to make it 2-1 after just five second half minutes.
Six minutes later Tigers were level, following another ball in behind that caught out Juventus. Sam Whithear found Spencer Barber from inside his own half, before the Canadian drove past a combative Nicholas Subasic, before bundling the ball into the back of the net and past an unlucky Gabriele Taurasi.
70 minutes in the comeback was complete, as Aidan Milicevic found Owusu in behind, before the Englishman backheeled the ball into the path of Barber who struck his second of the match.
That wasn’t the end of Milicevic’s influence on the match, as the reigning golden boot-winner struck a stunning stoppage-time free-kick past Taurasi, to see Tigers through to face Monaro Panthers next weekend.
Saturday 29 August
NPL Men’s First Grade Semi Final
Tuggeranong United vs Queanbeyan City
Stryda Park
It was Queanbeyan City that took an early lead in the final match of the day, as Michael Adams pounced on an errant Tuggeranong United touch, exchanged a give-and-go with Sam Aba, and slotted the ball past Callum Cook to open the scoring after four minutes.
Just three minutes after the restart Queanbeyan doubled their advantage, as Kristian Tokic powered a header home following a quality Kelzang Jigme delivery.
Absence of key attacking personnel for Mitch Stevens’ side added to Tuggeranong’s difficulties in front of goal, who despite pushing for a goal back, were unable to find a response to a clinical Queanbeyan City display.
