Goals in each half from Micheal Adams and Aisosa Ihegie gave League Champions O’Connor Knights their first-ever Charity Shield success as they defeated neighbours, and derby rivals, Canberra Croatia, 2-0 at Deakin Stadium.
In front of a large and noisy crowd, the Knights were clinical with their opportunities, striking from their limited chances, and showing real championship pedigree to hold off Croatia who were left shaking their heads at the number of gilt-edged chances that they passed up on a warm Sunday afternoon.
Indeed, Croatia might have been ahead inside the opening two minutes as they fashioned a shot at goal for winger Nick Pratezina, after a superb flick from Thomas James, but the wide-man could only fire straight at Knights custodian Seb Arranz.
Pratezina had an almost identical chance later in the half, this time the creative fulcrum was a lung-bursting run from full-back David Seselja, but the finish was the same, Pratezina hitting his shot into the palms of the Knights number one.
By that stage, the Knights were already ahead from the penalty spot. Ihegie showed his power, turning young defender Parris Bangweni inside the area and drawing a foul for a cast-iron spot-kick. Adams made no mistake from the resultant penalty, cooly sending Jason Matesa the wrong way.
Croatia will argue they could have been at least level by half-time, as well as Pratezina’s brace of chances, the same player headed narrowly wide from a Daniel Sparrow corner, whilst Atiya Waraga clipped the outside of the post with a flicked header when well-positioned in front of goal.
Waraga missed a glorious opportunity to equalise just before the hour when he lost his marker to meet a James cross that drew Arranz out of position, the usually lethal front-runner tamely heading over from inside the six-yard box.
And the Knights made them pay by doubling their lead within moments. Daniel Roberts played a pass to Jackson Paesler who clipped a well-weighted ball over the flat Croatia defence. The bounce invited Ihegie to meet it, and the forward showed his bravery, being clattered by Matesa, but crucially getting the definitive touch to nod home.
Following the second goal, the Knights were able to dictate the tempo of then match and held Croatia at bay in relative comfort, the oxygen appearing to have been sucked out of the Grand Final and Australia Cup Qualifying winners by the Champions going two-ahead.
O’Connor withstood a late barrage of Croatia corners, clearing every ball into the area with confidence, as they comfortably held on to add the season curtain-raiser to their hard-fought Championship crown.
MATCH DETAILS
O’Connor Knights (0) 2 (Adams 5’ (p), Ihegie 62’) Canberra Croatia (0) 0
TEAMS
O’Connor Knights: 1. Seb ARRANZ, 3. Lachlan FIELDS, 4. Aisosa IHEGIE, 6. Connor BILL, 7. Regan WALSH (12. Kristian TOKIC 85’), 9. Micheal ADAMS (14. Jackson PAESLER 59’, 19. Lachlan CAMPBELL 77’), 10. Patrick O’ROURKE, 11. Phakedi MANDA (8. Daniel ROBERTS 59’), 13. Harrison PALIC, 18. James DRISCOLL, 21, Niko KRESIC
Substitutes not used: 30. Adam STEVENS
Canberra Croatia: 23. Jason MATESA, 6. Ryan KEIR (8. Michael PICCOLO 74’), 9. Thomas JAMES, 10. Atiya WARAGA, 11. Nick PRATEZINA (7. Noah VANDERPOL 58’), 13. Parris BANGWENI (5. Marco GAYER 58’), 14. Daniel SUBASIC, 15. David SESELJA, 16. Tony SPASESKI, 19. Keegan VUCETIC, 24. Daniel SPARROW
Substitutes not used: 21. Jack PERAIC-CULLEN
DISCIPLINE
Yellow Cards: 3. Lachlan FIELDS, 8. Daniel ROBERTS (O’Connor Knights), 14. Daniel SUBASIC, 24. Daniel SPARROW (Canberra Croatia)
Red Cards: None
OFFICIALS
Referee: Nathan SHAKESPEAR, Assistant Referees: Adam POWERS, Thomas GELLATLY, Fourth Official: Joshua EISER
