National Premier League outfit O’Connor Knights proved too strong for Capital Premier League leaders Queanbeyan City as the reigning League champions booked a place in the Semi-Finals of the Capital Football Australia Cup Qualifying competition with a comprehensive 6-0 victory at Woden Park.
The Knights were in control of the destiny of the cup-tie from as early as the fourteenth minute when they were awarded a penalty for Steven Kreskas’ high boot on winger Phakedi Manda. Skipper Micheal Adams did the rest from the resultant spot-kick, coolly slotting past young custodian Finn Beasley and the Knights were up and running.
They doubled their lead shortly after. City will no doubt bemoan the contentious nature of the free-kick awarded against Nahel Guerrero for his challenge on Aisosa Ihegie, but they could only admire the precision of Regan Walsh’s set-piece, the ball curling over the wall and cannoning back off the bar for Kristian Tokic to react fastest and head home.
By the time Manda swivelled to rifle a venomous shot past Beasley from the top of the penalty area on the half-hour, the game was done and dusted, City only offering sporadic glimpses of their undoubted talent, Niko Abot firing a half-volley wide.
Ihegie, as he invariably does, go in on the act just before the half-time break, rifling home at the second attempt, prompting four interval changes for Queanbeyan who, realising the game was up, were switching their attention back to their promotion push ahead of their weekend fixture.
More goals were on the agenda for the Knights, Roberts finishing off a slick move with a fine finish before substitute Jackson Paesler smashed home a beauty to bring up the half-dozen.
Queanbeyan continued to battle gainfully, Marco Savkovic putting in a mountain of work in the middle of the park, the mantle passed onto Liam Gilmore upon his replacement in that holding role, whilst Beasley made a couple of smart saves to keep the scoreline respectable, but Knights were simply too good, and roll on.
Quarter-Finals
Tuesday 30 April
O’Connor Knights 6 (Adams 14’ (p), Tokic 17’, Manda 30’, Ihegie 45’, Roberts 55’, Paesler 58’) Queanbeyan City 0
