A stunning overhead kick from substitute Adam Firych sealed the double for Tuggeranong United as they came from behind to defeat a gallant Brindabella Blues in an excellent Capital Premier League Grand Final at the Riverside Stadium in Queanbeyan.
Firych’s moment of magic came off a long throw from fellow replacement Sean Kiddey, the defender showing amazing agility to readjust to score a sensational match-winner and see United home 2-1.
Earlier, it had appeared that the fourth-placed Blues would upset the applecart as they took the lead with a classic smash and grab, midfielder Henry Wilks finding Curtis Schaeffer who smacked a shot into the top corner of the net past James Benivento.
Schaeffer had previously been denied by a smart stop from Benivento after excellent approach work from Jordan Host, the Blues appealing unsuccessfully for a penalty after the winger was upended sending in the pass to his forward.
United appeared devoid of a way past the top-class Blues ‘keeper Rhys Flissinger, who defied everything that Tuggeranong could throw at him which, as the second half continued, came at increasingly frequent intervals.
Luke Stevens saw a shot superbly turned away by the Brindabella custodian who, with Ollie Witrzens in solid form in front of him, repelled the repeated Tuggeranong attacks. Indeed, in young full-back Kenzo Sly-Umebayashi and teenage midfielder Jayden Deighan-Smith in imperious form, the Blues looked solid.
However, United are champion side for a reason and they equalised with seven minutes remaining, a sucker punch to break Brindabella hearts.
Jamie Vearncombe broke down the right and flicked a ball through that bounced into the path of Sam Walker, the ace finisher doing the rest as he calmly side-footed home the leveller setting the scene for the extra-time heroics from Firych to win the trophy and seal the double.
It was a magnificent game to end the season, Tuggeranong having the better openings and thoroughly deserving their success, but knowing they were made to fight tooth and nail to get there by their opponents.
In the Capital Premier League under-23 Grand Final, Wagga City Wanderers caused a boilover as they knocked off the League Champions Brindabella Blues thanks to a double from Tom Matheson and a man of the match display from goalkeeper Adam Stevens.
Matheson struck once in each half to give the Wanderers the victory, reacting fastest to a Watban Ibrahim free-kick that was pushed away by goalkeeper Sebastian Bello-Rohan then sliding in the winner after excellent approach work by winger Matthew Mitchell.
Both teams ended the match with ten men, Blues having equalised with nineteen minutes to play as forward Kodi McLachlan broke clear to calmly finish past the outstanding Stevens, the Wanderers ‘keeper later incredibly denying Cohen Williams twice in quick succession with a double-save worthy of winning a Grand Final.
RESULTS
CPL: Brindabella Blues 1 (Schaeffer 80’) Tuggeranong United 2 (Walker 87’, Firych 113’)
CPLU23: Brindabella Blues 1 (McLachlan 71’) Wagga City Wanderers 2 (T. Matheson 32’, 87’)