Belconnen United came from 0-2 down with six minutes remaining to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory over Canberra Olympic after extra time securing a place in the Federation Cup Final in a memorable semi-final clash at the Australian Institute of Sport.
The Blue Devils appeared dead and buried in the 84th minute as Olympic led 2-0 and were keeping the cup holders at arms’-length for the main part, until the introduction of substitute Pearl Tein turned the tide in their favour.
Tein, who has recently returned to Canberra after spending a year abroad, struck twice within five minutes, the latter coming in the final minute of regulation time, to send a match that had looked Olympic’s, into an extra half-an-hour from which Belconnen emerged victorious.
It had looked anything but as Olympic, scowling after two losses to Belconnen in the early parts of the 2025 season led by the 19th minute as Madelyn Whittall reacted sharpest to a Tatum Mazis effort that Matilde Laurel-Tighe spilled into her path, a goal against the run of play.
If that had Belconnen reeling it was to get worse just before the hour. Again, Mazis tested Laurel-Tighe, the ‘keeper making an excellent block, only for the ball to ricochet to Whittall again, and the former Canberra United forward made no mistake in slotting home her, and her team’s second.
Belconnen’s best chance had been in the first-half, Olympic custodian Janet King saving magnificently from Alex Martens when the midfielder was poised to open the scoring, but even the brilliance of the stopper who spent the 2024/25 Ninja A-League season with Canberra United could stop Tein.
Having come on for Martens in the 67th minute, Tein slid in to reduce the arrears from a Lisa Cary cross in the 84th minute and, with time ticking away, struck a firm low effort that nicked a defender on its way into the net to equalise and condemn Olympic to an extra thirty minutes.
And it was the Blue Devils that won it on the cusp of half-time in the extra period. Anneke Corry drove forward, drifted infield and unleashed a shot that cannoned off the base of the post. It rebounded for Cary who smashed in the loose ball and sent Belconnen to the final.
RESULT
Federation Cup Semi-Final
Wednesday 14 May
Canberra Olympic 2 (Whittall 19’, 59’) Belconnen United 3 (Tein 84’, 89’, Cary 105’) – after extra time
