Yoogali Soccer Club make the first of their long-distance journeys to Canberra on Saturday afternoon when they visit to O’Connor Enclosed to tackle Canberra Olympic for the first time.
Both sides had an opening weekend to forget last time out, suffering 3-0 defeats at the hands of Canberra Croatia and Monaro Panthers respectively, both equally suffering from conceding early on.
For Yoogali, the welcome to the National Premier League was a stiff one, the Griffith based side discovering that the pace of play in the top league is markedly different from the Capital Premier League, tempered by the knowledge that they had come against one of the pre-eminent teams in the division.
A test against a Victor Yanes led Canberra Olympic, on their home patch, will be another examination of what the intestate outfit can offer, and with Olympic smarting from a Round 1 loss of their own, this fixture presents an intriguing way to begin Round 2.
Immediately following the match at O’Connor, attention will switch to the Riverside Stadium where Monaro Panthers will be aiming to start the season with two wins from two as they welcome the League Champions, O’Connor Knights.
Monaro couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season than their opening seven minutes against a shell-shocked Olympic at the Riverside, two goals inside that timeframe giving the home team the perfect platform from which to comfortably claim the three points.
Their evening was rounded off by one of the most sensational goals seen in Canberra football in years, Roko Strika’s long-range stunner, and the Panthers will need more of the same if they are to get past the Knights.
It’s a belated start to the season for the Champions, their first-round clash with Tigers FC falling victim to the weather, meaning that the Knights will be champing at the bit to get underway ahead of a big week with a scheduled Australia Cup Qualifying clash to come.
On Sunday, attention switches to Deakin Stadium and two teams who raced to opening day wins as Canberra Croatia meet Gungahlin United in what is traditionally a massive occasion between two rivals who usually provide must-watch entertainment when they go head-to-head.
Former Croatia frontman Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu is in scintillating form having netted five times on his debut in black and white, the American has a dozen goals in his last six NPL matches and will be out to break down the walls of his former club’s fortress.
Gunners opening day 6-0 thrashing of Tuggeranong United has put them at the top of the pile for what it is worth after one week, meaning this match with Croatia is in essence a ‘top of the table’ battle.
Croatia for their part began the season in convincing style themselves, a 3-0 away win at a tricky venue in Griffith against Yoogali getting the Grand Final winners off and running. But for some profligacy in front of goal, Croatia might have had more, and they will need to be more poised to see off Gunners.
Having played in midweek in a massive Australia Cup Qualifying match, it remains to be seen whether Croatia have the legs to go again against what is a formidable opponent.
Croatia’s cup opponents, Tigers FC, back-up themselves on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Kambah 2 to take on a Tuggeranong United outfit smarting from their hammering at Hawker Football Centre.
United had plenty of shots in the big loss to Gungahlin, they even saw the usual reliable Sam Walker miss a penalty, Aidan Munford saving from the spot-kick on his Gunners debut and will be working hard this week to rectify their poor form in front of the opposition goal.
Tigers were without a game in Round 1 as their scheduled conflict with the Knights at O’Connor Enclosed was postponed, meaning that the midweek cup tie at the Riverside Stadium against Croatia was Ali Efe’s first competitive match in charge of the club.
Historically, Tigers more often than not have the upper hand on Tuggeranong, but a wounded Tuggies are a side that can cause damage themselves. Expect a goal-laden ninety minutes!
FIXTURES
ROUND 2
Saturday 13 April
Canberra Olympic v Yoogali SC (O’Connor Enclosed, 15:00)
Monaro Panthers v O’Connor Knights (Riverside Stadium, 17:45)
Sunday 14 April
Tuggeranong United v Tigers FC (Kambah 2, 15:00)
Canberra Croatia v Gungahlin United (Stadium, 15:00)
All matches are streamed live on BarTV Sports.
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Gungahlin United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 3 |
| 2 | Canberra Croatia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| 3 | Monaro Panthers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| 4 | O’Connor Knights | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Tigers FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Canberra Olympic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 7 | Yoogali SC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 8 | Tuggeranong United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 0 |
TOP SCORERS
5: Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU (Gungahlin United)
1: Ben BASSER-SILK (Monaro Panthers), Adam DE FRANCESCHI (Monaro Panthers), Michael KATSOULIS (Gungahlin United), Michael PICCOLO (Canberra Croatia), Nick PRATEZINA (Canberra Croatia), Roko STRIKA (Monaro Panthers), Keegan VUCETIC (Canberra Croatia)
