There are all sorts of potential permutations at the top of the National Premier League as we enter the final Round of the regular season, but the simple equation is this. One point for Gungahlin United and they will be NPL League Champions for 2024.

There are scenarios in which Gungahlin might not even need that point when they face Tigers FC at the Australian Institute of Sport on Sunday afternoon, a failure for Canberra Croatia to win against Monaro Panthers would see to that, but the Gunners will be preparing to do the job themselves.

The irony of them facing Tigers FC, a team whom they defeated 3-0 at this very venue earlier in the season only to lose three points to and administrative error, is not lost on anyone who follows the local game. Without that deduction, the Gunners would be Champions already.

And yet, here we are. Courtesy of an epic 3-2 triumph over O’Connor Knights at O’Connor Enclosed in Round 20, Gungahlin’s three-point lead and superior goal difference means only a colossal collapse would prevent them from carrying off the silverware at the end of the fixture.

Tigers have nothing to play for in terms of the table. They are safely ensconced in the top four after doing their bit in defeating Yoogali SC at the AIS last time out, so have no need to spoil he hosts party. Football has an odd way of finding peculiar finishes though, so no-one in black and white would be taking anything for granted until its mathematically done.

Canberra Croatia can keep Gungahlin honest by doing their part on Saturday evening when they make the trip to take on Monaro Panthers at the Riverside Stadium in the knowledge that three points is a must to go level with Gunners then the fickle fates of footballing gods, goal difference, and potentially a calculator might be required.

Croatia need an eight-goal swing to give themselves a glimmer, although there is the highly unlikely scenario that that swing could eventuate, and they could still be pipped by Goals Scored in the final count.

First things first and a win will be the priority, if not to take the crown then at least to secure second place and a spot in the Qualification Final against Gungahlin United in a fortnight. A runners-up placing will be theirs with a win, and they’ll know exactly where they stand come kick-off.

The Panthers season petered out in terms of finals football with their 0-1 loss to Tuggeranong United at Kambah 2, the second season in succession the men from Queanbeyan have missed the end of season jamboree. They’ll want to end the season on a high though.

Earlier on Saturday afternoon O’Connor Knights have the chance to take second place themselves and, if they did get the three points to do so, they would relegate Canberra Olympic who need the maximum return to make sure that they heap the pressure on Yoogali SC ahead of their final match of the season.

Knights were rightly disappointed not to get the points they needed to keep their hopes of retaining their League Championship title alive but are still very much in the running for adding the one trophy they have yet to secure in their cabinet, the Grand Final winning silverware.

The O’Connor team are a proud bunch and will be pushing for second place, and that means a tough afternoon for Olympic. The cellar-dwellers were two-nil up against Croatia at Deakin last weekend but fell over, and need to go with one last massive effort if they are to avoid the trapdoor. That time is now for Olympic.

Should Olympic get the points they crave, attention will switch to Solar Mad Stadium where Yoogali SC would need a win of their own against visiting Tuggeranong United to survive another season in the top-flight. If Olympic lose, it could be party-time in Griffith.

Yoogali were close to getting another point last week, only the width of the post denying them a draw with Tigers FC and will enter the game brimming with confidence that they can get the win should it be needed, something that seemed unlikely throughout the season.

Tuggeranong moved to within three points of fifth place with another excellent display in defeating Monaro Panthers 1-0, Steve Nealon netting again, and have only pride top play for themselves. Should Yoogali need a win, Tuggeranong will provide stiff opposition, but need might be the requirement that decides the contest.

FIXTURES

ROUND 21

Saturday 31 August

Canberra Olympic v O’Connor Knights (O’Connor Enclosed, 15:00)

Monaro Panthers v Canberra Croatia (Riverside Stadium, 17:45)

Sunday 1 September

Yoogali SC v Tuggeranong United (Solar Mad Stadium, 13:15)

Gungahlin United v Tigers FC (AIS Grass Field 1, 15:00)

All matches are streamed live on BarTV Sports.

TABLE

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1	Gungahlin United*	20	14	2	4	51	22	+29	44
2	Canberra Croatia	20	13	2	5	49	28	+21	41
3	O’Connor Knights	20	12	4	4	40	30	+10	40
4	Tigers FC**	20	10	4	6	43	27	+16	34
5	Monaro Panthers	20	8	5	7	32	23	+9	29
6	Tuggeranong United	20	7	5	8	31	32	-1	26
7	Yoogali SC	20	2	2	16	12	63	-51	8
8	Canberra Olympic	20	2	0	18	23	56	-33	6

 

TOP SCORERS

17: Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU (Gungahlin United)

13: Atiya WARAGA (Canberra Croatia)

11: Daniel BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Roko STRIKA (Monaro Panthers)

9: Steve NEALON (Tuggeranong United)

8: Micheal ADAMS (O’Connor Knights), Aisosa IHEGIE (O’Connor Knights), Nick PRATEZINA (Canberra Croatia)

7: Jeremy HABTEMARIAM (Gungahlin United), Michael KATSOULIS (Gungahlin United)

6: Augustine BANGURA (Gungahlin United), Nikos KALFAS (Tigers FC), Own GOALS

5: Jenno CERUTI (Monaro Panthers), Luca FLOREZ (Canberra Olympic), Archie MCGREGOR (Tigers FC), Nik TANESKI (Tigers FC), Keegan VUCETIC (Canberra Croatia), Sam WALKER (Tuggeranong United)

4: Ben BASSER-SILK (Monaro Panthers), Joshua DE ROSSI (Yoogali SC), Stephen DOMENICI (Canberra Olympic), Niko KRESIC (O’Connor Knights), Santiago LUPINO (Monaro Panthers), Phakedi MANDA (O’Connor Knights), Davaadelger OKTYABRI (Tuggeranong United), Daniel OLAOYE (Gungahlin United), Jackson PAESLER (O’Connor Knights), Sam WHITHEAR (Tigers FC), Shandon WHITEHEAD (Gungahlin United)

3: Angus BAILEY (Tigers FC), Alen JAMES (Canberra Olympic/O’Connor Knights), Amilio KISTA (Tigers FC), Joshua MILICEVIC (Tigers FC), Tomohiro OGAWA (Tigers FC), Patrick O’ROURKE (O’Connor Knights), ROMEO (Gungahlin United), Daniel SPARROW (Canberra Croatia)

2: Nic EMANUEL (Tuggeranong United), Bevan FOXALL (Tuggeranong United), Axel GARBIN (Yoogali SC), Jack GREEN (Gungahlin United), Sam HABTEMARIAM (Canberra Olympic), Michael JOHN (Canberra Olympic), Tyson LIVERMORE (Monaro Panthers), Zac MCLAREN (Monaro Panthers), Joshua PEDERSEN (Tuggeranong United), Niko PERINOVIC (O’Connor Knights), Michael PICCOLO (Canberra Croatia), Jordan REZEK (Tuggeranong United), Tony SPASESKI (Canberra Croatia), Daniel SUBASIC (Canberra Croatia), Kristian TOKIC (O’Connor Knights), Harry TRUMAN (Canberra Olympic)

1: Darren BAILEY (Yoogali SC), Jack BITANI (Tigers FC), Samson CARR (Tigers FC), Izach CLEMENTS (Canberra Olympic), Elie DARWICH (Canberra Olympic), Adam DE FRANCESCHI (Monaro Panthers), James DRISCOLL (O’Connor Knights), Lachlan FIELDS (O’Connor Knights), Marley JACKSON (Tigers FC), Thomas JAMES (Canberra Croatia), Christopher JOHN (Yoogali SC), Christian JUNNA (Gungahlin United), Ryan KEIR (Canberra Croatia), Chirstian KRESKAS (Monaro Panthers),  Zac LAWRENCE (Tuggeranong United), Jack LEVERETT (Tuggeranong United), Marko MILUTINOVIC (Tigers FC), Patrick MITCHELL (Monaro Panthers), Shinzaburo NAKAYAMA (Canberra Olympic), Alessandro PENA (Tigers FC), Euan PETERKIN (Tuggeranong United), Joe PREECE (Yoogali SC), Nik POPOVICH (Tigers FC), Sam ROESTBAKKEN (Canberra Olympic), Vinnie SANCHEZ (O’Connor Knights), David SESELJA (Canberra Croatia), Patrick SHORE (Canberra Olympic), Julian SMITH (Gungahlin United), Bailey SORENSEN (Canberra Olympic), Michael SOUTHAM (Tigers FC), Noah STEINACKER (Tigers FC), Luke STEVENS (Tuggeranong United), Antoni TIMOTHOEU (Gungahlin United), Matt WILLIAMS (Tuggeranong United), Ryan ZANATTA (Yoogali SC)

*Gungahlin United deducted three points for field an ineligible player in the 3-0 win against Tigers FC

**Tigers FC awarded a 3-0 win, and three points, for Gungahlin United fielding an ineligible player