Canberra United Academy kept on the coattails of the leading four in the Women’s National Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Tuggeranong United on Thursday evening whilst Tuggeranong’s men’s outfit leapt to the top of the Capital premier league with a hard-fought win over fellow promotion contenders White Eagles.
WOMEN’S NPL
Tuggeranong United 0 Canberra United Academy 2 (Christopherson 39’, Hampson 89’)
A goal in each half ensured Canberra United Academy came away with all three points in their rearranged Round 6 fixture with Tuggeranong United at Greenway Enclosed on a bitterly cold winter’s evening. The Academy hit Tuggeranong late in each half to ensure the maximum return but were made to work every step of the way by a gallant home outfit.
The breakthrough that the visitors craved, and which had looked likely for most of the opening half, arrived with six minutes remaining of the first forty-five minutes. A chipped ball over the heart of the Tuggeranong defence freed Sofia Christopherson and the Academy striker made the most of the chance, taking a touch and rifling a drive beyond the reach of Sammie Emms in the home goal.
Emms needed to be at full stretch twice during the match, palming long-range shots over the crossbar, but she could did little to prevent the killer goal in the final minute. Alyssa Di-Campli forced a fine save from Emms, the keeper diving low to push away the fierce shot, but only as far as defender Tayla Hampson who reacted fastest to ram home her first senior WNPL goal and secure the 2-0 win.
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Canberra Croatia | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | +41 | 22 |
| 2 | Canberra Olympic | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | +34 | 20 |
| 3 | West Canberra Wanderers | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 4 | Belconnen United | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | +19 | 15 |
| 5 | Canberra United Academy | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -6 | 9 |
| 6 | Gungahlin United | 8 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -9 | 5 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -20 | 4 |
| 8 | Wagga City Wanderers | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | -59 | 0 |
CAPITAL PREMIER LEAGUE
White Eagles 1 (Caglar 5’) Tuggeranong United 2 (Walker 34’, 85’ (p))
A brace of goals from Sam Walker sent Tuggeranong United to the top of the Capital Premier League as they came from behind to defeat White Eagles 2-1 on the synthetic turf of Hawker Football Centre. And, whilst not at their free-flowing best, United did just enough against a very good Eagles outfit who look to be in contention for the promotion place judging on a solid start to 2022.
The Eagles started this match well also, taking advantage of an uncharacteristic error from United custodial James Benivento who presented a gilt-edged chance to the CPL top scorer, Cuneyt Caglar and he gleefully accepted, rolling in his tenth goal of the season to put the Eagles ahead after only five minutes.
Tuggeranong, who have been full of goals in the early part of the season, responded well and equalised nine minutes before the interval when Walker struck for the eighth time this term. They may have had a second but for Walker’s lobbed finish being ruled out for a marginal offside call.
If United didn’t get the decision there, they had better luck five minutes from the final whistle when they were awarded a penalty. Walker, the calmest man amidst the mayhem, made no mistake from the spot to send Mitch Stevens and his team, relegated from NPL1 last season, top of the pile and in with a shout of an immediate return to the elite level.
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Tuggeranong United | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | +32 | 21 |
| 2 | Queanbeyan City | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | +12 | 20 |
| 3 | White Eagles | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | +14 | 13 |
| 4 | ANU FC | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | +5 | 12 |
| 5 | Brindabella Blues | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 11 |
| 6 | Yoogali SC | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -7 | 8 |
| 7 | Wagga City Wanderers | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -15 | 7 |
| 8 | Weston-Molonglo FC | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | -35 | 0 |
