Canberra Croatia eased into the Australia Cup Qualifying Round 6, Federation Cup Semi-Finals, with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Monaro Panthers on a greasy playing surface at Deakin Stadium.
Following extensive rain throughout the day in the National Capital, the two sides who had begun the National Premier League season unbeaten and with a swathe of goals between them, made light work of treacherous conditions underfoot to provide an enthralling contest.
There was a horror start for the Panthers as they conceded with thirty seconds on the clock. Adam De Franceschi attempted to play out from the back and his pass was picked off by Thomas James who was not about to pass up the gilt-edged opportunity and duly slotted home.
Monaro responded well and only the brilliance of Sam Brown kept out a stunning volley from Stephen Domenici, the same player skewing wide when well-placed inside the penalty area, whilst Michael Piccolo finished tamely straight at Brown when played through.
The home team were more ruthless and doubled their lead eleven minutes before the break. James lifted a wonderfully flighted free-kick into the area which was met at the far post by the unmarked ‘skipper Ryan Keir, who nodded home from close range.
The visitors needed a response, but it was Croatia who extended their lead and effectively killed the tie within four minutes of the restart. James was pivotal to it again, dancing his way into the area and cutting the ball back into the danger zone. Daniel Colbertaldo cleverly left it, and Maxx Green converted.
Again, Monaro tried their best to get back into the match, but it wasn’t their evening, best summarized by an incident in the first-half when a cross came off the head of Keir and rebounded off the base of the post, being hacked away to safety. It was one of those nights for the Panthers.
Croatia sealed their passage to the last four with a fourth goal in stoppage time. Full-back Riley Zsuzsa had been slowly pushing forward over the final few minutes of the match and got his reward as he arrived to sweep ho9me at the back-post and secure a famous home win.
RESULT
AUSTRALIA CUP QUALIFYING ROUND 5
Canberra Croatia 4 (James 1’, Keir 34’, Green 49’, Zsuzsa 90’) Monaro Panthers 0
