Former Federation Cup/Australia Cup Qualifying winners Gungahlin United qualified for the Quarter Finals draw following a 5-2 victory over Belconnen United at the Australian Institute of Sport in Australia Cup Qualifying Round 4.
The Capital Premier League outfit pushed their National Premier League opponents to the limit, especially in an opening forty-five minutes in which the Blue Devils were arguably the better team and might have had more to celebrate other than their one-goal lead they took into the changing rooms.
Abraham Kemp struck it, collecting a Jake Bishop ball over the top to advance and plant a perfect finish low past Heath Ilitch in the Gunners goal, but a three-goal spell in ten chaotic second-half minutes se Gungahlin regain control of the cup-tie.
Super-striker Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu was the main attraction again, his hat-trick propelling him to an astonishing ten goals in three competitive outings in 2024 and seventeen in his last eight matches in total, a phenomenal scoring record.
The American struck from the spot after Michael Katsoulis had been upended, Katsoulis himself having levelled within minutes of coming on a second-half substitute and added his second with a diving header moments later. He would complete his treble in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
Dustin Wells pulled one back for Belconnen to make it 3-2, but Shandon Whitehead’s free-kick, helped into the net by an uncharacteristic error from goalkeeper Jamie-Lee Guo, who later redeemed himself with s stunning save from Samuel Habtemariam, secured Gunners’ progression.
Over at Greenway Enclosed there was a tight tussle between NPL and CPL as Tuggeranong United defeated ANU FC 1-0 courtesy of a second-half goal from Nic Emanuel, his first for the club.
The striker latched onto a perfect through ball from midfielder Bevan Foxall, arcing his run in between the central defender and full-back to finish low and hard underneath the AMU FC goalkeeper.
It was one of a limited number of opportunities for both teams, United almost scoring just prior when defender Daniel Grove hit the post, the ball being scrambled to safety, whilst Callum Cook was forced to make a good save close to the end to preserve United’s precarious advantage.
In the all-NPL clash at Woden Park it was the League Champions O’Connor Knights who ended Canberra Olympic’s Cup interest for this season, the 2024 finalists beaten 2-0 on a cool evening in central Canberra.
The Knights, bidding for a first final since the NPL-era began, were in front seven minutes from the break, midfielder Micheal Adams being released to net a finely taken goal, but they were unable to out the game to be until late on, offering Olympic the chance to salvage extra-time.
That was nullified in the first minute of time added on as Aisosa Ihegie, scorer of a brace in the NPL win over Monaro Panthers in Round 2, was on target again, continuing his fine start to the season as the Knights went through.
There were few complications for the Monaro Panthers who roared into a five-goal lead after only twenty minutes of their cup clash with CPL outfit West Canberra Wanderers, ultimately winning the tie 7-1.
In a blistering start, the Panthers were ahead in the third minute through Roko Strika, and Christian Kreskas double the lead three minutes later. Incredibly, Strika scored again in the eighth minute and completed his eight-minute hat-trick in the eleventh as Panthers blew Wanderers away.
Ben Basser-Silk made it five before twenty minutes was up, and perhaps the only surprise was that it took Monaro until just past the hour to bring up half-a-dozen, Jenno Ceruti the scorer. Bradley Cashmore pulled one back for Wanderers, but the moment of the night was the seventh Monaro goal.
Gerion Mehmetaj is usually found between the posts, but as the Panthers were short-staffed was asked to bench as an outfield player, only to be summoned into the action and hammer home the last goal with a screamer. The Magic of the Cup.
RESULTS
Wednesday 17 April
O’Connor Knights 2 (Adams 38’, Ihegie 90+1’) Canberra Olympic 0
Belconnen United 2 (Kemp 17’, Wells 63’) Gungahlin United 5 (Katsoulis 49’, Ahmed-Shaibu 51’ (p), 54’, 90+9’, Whitehead 82’)
West Canberra Wanderers 1 (Cashmore 56’) Monaro Panthers 7 (Strika 3’, 8’, 11’, Kreskas 6’, Basser-Silk 19’, Ceruti 61’, Mehmetaj 83’)
Tuggeranong United 1 (Emanuel 56’) ANU FC 0
