Canberra Croatia and Belconnen United surprisingly meet for the first time in a Federation Cup final this Saturday, and neither lack motivation to add another trophy in their cabinet. This final will have an air of nostalgia, with the two teams who battled so many times for silverware before the rise of Canberra Olympic in the last two seasons.
Belconnen United are the title holders. Deemed a young team in 2023, they succeeded where they had failed in the previous season, a trophy to reward their performances. The final played against Gungahlin United was a thriller that kept fans on the edge of their seats, until Talia Backhouse at the 95th minute offered her Blue Devils the 10th Federation Cup of their history.
This season, Scott Conlon’s team has been nearly unbeatable. Aside from the Charity Shield, Belconnen was on a perfect run of nine successes in all competitions. That is, until last Sunday’s one-goal defeat to Gungahlin. Nonetheless, their status has evolved. The Blue Devils are expected to collect silverware this season. The young team has played together for three consecutive seasons now, adding important pieces to replace players on the move or simply improve the squad.
Reilly Yuen’s 10 goals only challenged on the goal scoring ladder by Alyssa Di-Campli’s 8. At the other end of the pitch, Monique Pinkiewicz, recently arrived from Tasmania, has recorded four clean sheets in eight games so far. They will enter the pitch on Saturday as favourites.
For Canberra Croatia, this season tells a different story. Unable to get points against the best teams in the league on weekends, Zoran Glavinic’s team has dominated them in the Cup. A result that most would consider an upset against Canberra Olympic in the quarter-finals, then ousting Gungahlin United in the semis, the Deakin side advanced despite being on the “challenging” side of the draw.
In WNPL, their results are less flattering. Fourth on the table after seven games, they have lost more games than they have won. Six points away from third place Gungahlin, they are also under threat with West Canberra two points behind. The table does not fit the talent in the Deakin ranks.
Jamie Berkeley, Amy McLachlan, Bella Barac, Brittany Palombi, or Dianne Wilson are names you expect contending for titles every year. Yet in four games against Olympic, Belconnen and Gungahlin, they have conceded 15 goals, while finding the back of the net seven times.
Saturday is a chance for Zoran Glavinic’s team to get silverware – and it might feel like their only chance to get a trophy this season. At home and in front of a crowd undoubtedly favouring them, Canberra Croatia will have all the motivation they need to take the trophy off the hands of their arch-rivals.
MATCH DETAILS
Saturday 8 June
Federation Cup Final
Belconnen United v Canberra Croatia
(Deakin Stadium, 14:00)
Admission (covers both Finals)
Adults: $5
Concession: Gold Coin
Under-14: Free
Program: $2
Words: Jeremy Magan
