Everything seems to be falling in on Canberra Olympic at present. The perennial finals contenders, and one of the most successful teams in the National Premier League in Canberra, need to find some form and there would be no better time for them to do so than meeting fellow O’Connor Enclosed dwellers, O’Connor Knights, in Round 7.
Another home defeat, losing 1-4 to Canberra Croatia in the ‘Canberra Classico’ was compounded by another red card as Tupaia Ringi became the third Olympic player to see red over the last fortnight, has left all connected with the Capital Football giant scratching their heads.
The squad assembled at Olympic is better than its results suggest, but names alone don’t guarantee points, and the Knights will, as ever, provide a stern test for anyway. The ‘BBQ Derby’ often throws up talking points, and this edition will likely be the same especially following last week’s inactivity which will leave the Knights refreshed and ready to roar.
Tigers FC are finding their feet and a comprehensive win over Yoogali SC in Griffith last week puts them in an extremely confident mood as they welcome Gungahlin United for what promises to be a hugely entertaining clash between two teams in good recent form and who possess attacking talent aplenty.
Tigers’ injury list is substantial, but Ali Efe has assembled a squad of exciting young talent who have taken to the competition and are showcasing their talent. Witness Archie McGregor at the Solar Mad Stadium. Four times he was on the end of Tigers moves to finish off, meaning he is brimming with confidence heading into this game.
Whether they can gather themselves for the challenge of the free-scoring Gunners will be an intriguing proposition. The Gunners saw their Round 6 match with O’Connor Knights postponed, leaving them champing at the bit to get onto the park this weekend.
Canberra Croatia will be seeking some sort of redemption for their Australia Cup Qualifying exit at the hands of Monaro Panthers when they welcome the Paul Macor coached side to Deakin Stadium for what is a vital match for both teams seeking to keep in touch with the top of the table.
The Panthers dumped Croatia out of the local cup competition a fortnight ago, precipitating the winds of change sweeping through the corridors of the Deakin club, and seeing the return of Dean Ugrinic into the hot seat, this fixture his official welcome back to Croatia’s home.
Both teams come into the fixture having had tough matches last time out, the Panthers held by a stubborn Tuggeranong United at the Riverside Stadium, unable to break down the well-structured and organised United defence to gain the win, whilst Croatia worked hard to claim all three points from the ‘Canberra Classico’ with Olympic.
This is a chance for both outfits to get one up over a fellow contender for the top four positions and lay down a marker heading into the second set of fixtures. This has the potential to go either way.
Tuggeranong United can see the promised land of the top four, and with bottom-of-the-table, winless, and pointless Yoogali SC next up as the opposition at Kambah 2, there is a real possibility that Mitch Stevens’ group could gate-crash the usual suspects in the positions that matter come the end of the weekend.
It has been a wonderful few weeks for Tuggeranong United. Wins over Canberra Croatia and Canberra Olympic in the NPL, followed by a cup success against Yoogali, and a hard-earned point in a 1-1 draw against the Panthers at the Riverside, means they are one of the form teams of the competition.
The fixture is being held as part of the Adam Fry Memorial Shield day at the club, suggesting there might well be a bumper crowd to welcome the visitors from interstate who will be eyeing this one off as a ‘must-win’ if they are to start their recovery and pull away from the relegation zone.
Patrick Hislop stole the Quarter Final win for Tuggeranong, his stoppage time winner at Greenway seeing off Yoogali who played over fifty minutes with ten men, and the sight of inspirational skipper Darren Bailey hobbling off last weekend will not improve the mood. However, they could change all that come Sunday evening.
FIXTURES
ROUND 7
Saturday 18 May
O’Connor Knights v Canberra Olympic (O’Connor Enclosed, 15:00)
Tigers FC v Gungahlin United (TBC)
Sunday 19 May
Canberra Croatia v Monaro Panthers (Deakin Stadium, 15:00)
Tuggeranong United v Yoogali SC (Kambah 2, 15:00)
All matches are streamed live on BarTV Sports.
TABLE
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
1 | Gungahlin United | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 | +14 | 15 |
2 | O’Connor Knights | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 12 |
3 | Tigers FC | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 10 |
4 | Monaro Panthers | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 10 |
5 | Canberra Croatia | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 7 |
6 | Tuggeranong United | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 7 |
7 | Canberra Olympic | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 17 | -5 | 3 |
8 | Yoogali SC | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 23 | -21 | 0 |
TOP SCORERS
10: Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU (Gungahlin United)
5: Archie MCGREGOR (Tigers FC), Nick PRATEZINA (Canberra Croatia)
4: Aisosa IHEGIE (O’Connor Knights)
3: Jenno CERUTI (Monaro Panthers), Luca FLOREZ (Canberra Olympic), Roko STRIKA (Monaro Panthers), Sam WALKER (Tuggeranong United)
2: Micheal ADAMS (O’Connor Knights), Daniel BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Ben BASSER-SILK (Monaro Panthers), Alen JAMES (Canberra Olympic), Michael KATSOULIS (Gungahlin United), Amilio KISTA (Tigers FC), Davaadelger OKTYABRI (Tuggeranong United), Niko PERINOVIC (O’Connor Knights), Michael PICCOLO (Canberra Croatia), Nik TANESKI (Tigers FC), Own GOALS
1: Augustine BANGURA (Gungahlin United), Jack BITANI (Tigers FC), Samson CARR (Tigers FC), Elie DARWICH (Canberra Olympic), Adam DE FRANCESCHI (Monaro Panthers), Joshua DE ROSSI (Yoogali SC), Stephen DOMENICI (Canberra Olympic), Jeremy HABTEMARIAM (Gungahlin United), Thomas JAMES (Canberra Croatia), Michael JOHN (Canberra Olympic), Nikos KALFAS (Tigers FC), Niko KRESIC (O’Connor Knights), Tyson LIVERMORE (Monaro Panthers), Marko MILUTINOVIC (Tigers FC), Shinzaburo NAKAYAMA (Canberra Olympic), Daniel OLAOYE (Gungahlin United), Jackson PAESLER (O’Connor Knights), Joshua PEDERSEN (Tuggeranong United), Jordan REZEK (Tuggeranong United), Sam ROESTBAKKEN (Canberra Olympic), David SESELJA (Canberra Croatia), Patrick SHORE (Canberra Olympic), Julian SMITH (Gungahlin United), Tony SPASESKI (Canberra Croatia), Daniel SUBASIC (Canberra Croatia), Harry TRUMAN (Canberra Olympic), Keegan VUCETIC (Canberra Croatia), Shandon WHITEHEAD (Gungahlin United)