The unbeaten O’Connor Knights take their 100% record to visit Tigers FC this weekend in Round 8 of the National Premier League, at a new venue in the shape of South Jerrabomberra Sporting Complex, both teams seeking points to keep up their challenges at the top of the table.
This will be the first meeting between the teams in the 2024 season, the scheduled Round 1 encounter postponed earlier in the season and, whilst the Knights have been perfect in the NPL, the Tigers have also played some exhilarating football meaning this should be a top-class match-up.
Knights were forced to show their top-level credentials last week finding a way to win, much as a champion side does, by stealing three points with a 94th minute winner from substitute Niko Kresic.
Tigers meanwhile showed their softer underbelly, following their claws out performance at Yoogali, succumbing to a three-goal loss to Gungahlin United at the Australian Institute of Sport. They’ll need to reassert that steely resolve if they are to end the Knights unbeaten NPL charge.
Canberra Olympic need some points, and they need them sooner rather than later, following another defeat last week, losing narrowly to O’Connor Knights at O’Connor Enclosed. They’re home again this weekend, when Monaro Panthers arrive off the back of their clash at Deakin Stadium.
Olympic were forceful and resilient in equal measure for large parts of the ‘BBQ Derby’ against the Knights, but ultimately fell to a sixth defeat of the season via the concession of goals from a penalty and from a last-gasp free-kick that was bundled in at the back post.
There were moments during the derby that Olympic can put into the positive column, not least the well-created, and well-taken goal from Luca Florez, but there needs to be more of these moments on more occasions if the storied club are to drag themselves clear of what is beginning to look like a relegation scrap.
The Panthers were resolute in defence last week at Deakin Stadium, denying Canberra Croatia on numerous occasions with some last-gasp defending, and will be seeking to add more attacking oomph into their forward forays this week.
On Sunday afternoon, the NPL League Leaders Gungahlin United will head Southside to take on Tuggeranong United with memories still fresh from their opening day hammering of their opponents at Hawker Football Centre in Round 1. Kambah provides the backdrop to this tussle.
Both clubs enter this Round 8 contest off the back of midweek Cup action in Australia Cup Qualifying, Gunners playing Tuesday with Tuggeranong following suit twenty-four hours later, and how both recover from those fixtures may go some way to determining the outcome.
Gungahlin have the league’s in-form striker in Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu, and he will be seeking the way to add to his season tally, boosted by a five-goal display in that reverse fixture back in April.
Gunners won 3-0 against Tigers FC at the Institute in Round 7, whilst Tuggeranong claimed a biggest ever NPL victory as they hammered hapless Yoogali by six clear goals. The home side are running hot, confidence is high, and this will be a proper test of where they are currently at.
The final match of the round will take place at Deakin Stadium when the men from Griffith, Yoogali SC, head for Canberra once more, this time to take on Canberra Croatia, the former aiming for revenge from the first match of their NPL sojourn, a home fixture that ended in a 0-3 defeat.
Much has changed since then, particularly for the home side, Dean Ugrinic now back in the Croatia hot-seat, and the ever-demanding local support of the men in red will be hoping that the reappointment of the former boss will restore some of the glitz and glamour shown in winning three trophies in 2023.
For Yoogali the first third of the season is done and dusted, and the Capital Premier League Champions have so far struggled to adapt to life at the elite level. A six-goal loss to Tuggeranong last week exposed some defensive frailties, but this is a proud group so expect a retaliation this week.
FIXTURES
ROUND 8
Saturday 25 May
Tigers FC v O’Connor Knights (South Jerrabomberra Sporting Complex,15:00)
Canberra Olympic v Monaro Panthers (O’Connor Enclosed, 15:00)
Sunday 26 May
Tuggeranong United v Gungahlin United (Kambah 2, 15:00)
Canberra Croatia v Yoogali SC (Deakin Stadium, 15:00)
All matches are streamed live on BarTV Sports.
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Gungahlin United | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4 | +17 | 18 |
| 2 | O’Connor Knights | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 15 |
| 3 | Monaro Panthers | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 11 |
| 4 | Tigers FC | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 10 |
| 5 | Tuggeranong United | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 15 | -2 | 10 |
| 5 | Canberra Croatia | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 8 |
| 7 | Canberra Olympic | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 3 |
| 8 | Yoogali SC | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 29 | -27 | 0 |
TOP SCORERS
11: Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU (Gungahlin United)
5: Archie MCGREGOR (Tigers FC), Nick PRATEZINA (Canberra Croatia)
4: Luca FLOREZ (Canberra Olympic), Aisosa IHEGIE (O’Connor Knights)
3: Micheal ADAMS (O’Connor Knights), Jenno CERUTI (Monaro Panthers), Davaadelger OKTYABRI (Tuggeranong United), Roko STRIKA (Monaro Panthers), Sam WALKER (Tuggeranong United)
2: Augustine BANGURA (Gungahlin United), Daniel BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Ben BASSER-SILK (Monaro Panthers), Nic EMANUEL (Tuggeranong United), Alen JAMES (Canberra Olympic), Michael KATSOULIS (Gungahlin United), Amilio KISTA (Tigers FC), Niko KRESIC (O’Connor Knights), Niko PERINOVIC (O’Connor Knights), Michael PICCOLO (Canberra Croatia), Jordan REZEK (Tuggeranong United), Nik TANESKI (Tigers FC), Own GOALS
1: 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), Jack GREEN (Gungahlin United), Jeremy HABTEMARIAM (Gungahlin United), Thomas JAMES (Canberra Croatia), Michael JOHN (Canberra Olympic), Nikos KALFAS (Tigers FC), Jack LEVERETT (Tuggeranong United), 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), Euan PETERKIN (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)
