Canberra Olympic are through to their maiden Capital Premier League Grand Final after defeating League Champions Belconnen United in the Qualifying Final on Saturday Afternoon at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval.
It was a cagey opening to the match as both sides battled for control but neither were able to get a foothold. Belconnen had some early success down their right flank, as Michael Rinaudo caused problems, but the Blue Devils did little to trouble stand in keeper Beau Babyack.
Belconnen would take the lead, as a strike from Jake Bishop stood at the edge of the box gave Babyack little chance of saving it.
The Blue Devils had a golden opportunity to double their lead, as Daniel Linstead upended Rinaudo in the box. Patrick O’Rourke stepped to take the spot kick, but failed to get past Babyack.
Olympic found their breakthrough right before the half-time break, as Abraham Kemp lobbed Jamie Lee-Guo from range to bring his side level.
A re-shuffled Olympic side came out hungry in the second half searching for the goal to put them in front. And they would find it just past the hour mark, as Antoni Timotheou found the back of the net in the 68th minute to take the lead.
That would be the final score, as Olympic booked their spot in the Grand Final while Belconnen will head into the Preliminary Final.
ANU FC booked their ticket to the Preliminary Final against Belconnen, defeating Canberra Juventus in a thriller, that required a penalty shootout to separate the two sides.
Juventus had the better of the chances early, and made the University side pay with an early goal. A scramble in the box off the back of a Juventus corner was eventually poked home by Adrian Macor for the lead.
ANU pulled one back just before the half hour mark, as a scramble up the other end of the park eventually found the back of the net, with Jack Gibson getting the last touch.
It was back and forth for much of the game, as both sides battled hard to take control. Neither side could find the goal needed to take the lead, as they headed into extra time.
The extra thirty minutes was a tense affair with chances aplenty at both ends but neither side able to capitalise, meaning the match would need to go to penalties.
It was a nightmare start for Juventus in the shootout, missing their first two spot kicks, whilst ANU were perfect with their attempts as substitute Orlando Jeffery slotted the winning spot-kick.
RESULTS
QUALIFICATION FINAL
Saturday 6 September
Belconnen United 1 (Bishop 23′) Canberra Olympic (Kemp 44′, Timotheou 67′)
ELIMINATION FINAL
Saturday 6 September
ANU FC 1 (Gibson 26′) Canberra Juventus 1 (A. Macor 12′) ANU win 4-2 on penalties.
