Canberra Croatia handed out a midweek mauling on Thursday evening in their rearranged Round 1 match with Canberra Olympic at Deakin Stadium. The home side swamped their opponents in the ‘Canberra Classico’ running out winners by eight goals to nil.
It was a ruthless and domineering performance from the most-storied club in the national capital as, from then moment Matej Busek volleyed them into the lead inside half-an-hour, they cut loose to put their opponents to the sword.
Daniel Barac made hay, claiming a hat-trick, netting his first two before the break whilst Stephen Domenici helped himself to a double, grabbing his first goals for the team in red who were in rampant form throughout, the attacking duo in particularly inspiring form.
The lively Busek added a second after the resumption of activities and there was a lovely finish to a sweeping team move from midfield general Ryan Keir, before Barac completed his treble on ma chastening evening for Olympic.
The Women’s section of Canberra Croatia cruised into the Semi-Finals of the Federation Cup with an ultimately comfortable 5-0 win over West Canberra Wanderers but, having taken the tie by the scruff of the neck early on, they had to wait until the final quarter before securing their place in the last four.
Early goals from Rebecca Kiting and Sienna Birnie gave the visitors a two-goal cushion and threatened a repeat of the Charity Shield where Croatia put six on the Wanderers after a similarly rapid beginning.
The hosts responded well however and it wasn’t until Birnie struck again with fifteen minutes remaining that the Cup holders could rest easy. An 89th minute strike from Dianne Wilson added gloss to the scoreline before an unfortunate own goal from Wanderers’ Kaitlyn Colwill gave the final result a harsher perspective.
NPL
Round 1
Canberra Olympic 0 Canberra Croatia 8 (Busek 29’, 57’, Barac 34’, 43’, 60’, Domenici 44’, 74’, Keir 53’)
Federation Cup
Quarter Final
West Canberra Wanderers 0 Canberra Croatia 5 (Kiting 12’, Birnie 14’, 75’, Wilson 89’ Colwill 90+2’ (og))
