Canberra Croatia will join archrivals Belconnen United in the Federation Cup Final after their 2-1 success over Gungahlin United at the Riverside Stadium in Queanbeyan. The Deakin side are back on the Cup’s biggest stage after missing out on the last two finals.
Ten days after losing at home to the Gunners in the dying embers of the game, Zoran Glavinic’s team were on a mission to get revenge – and place themselves for some silverware in 2024. As expected, the duel was a tight encounter, and Canberra Croatia found in their goalkeeper Ellie Summers a hero that did not hesitate to put her body on the line with seconds to go to preserve her team’s success.
The Deakin side fired the first shots of the match, with Arusha Chew launched to challenge Matilde Laurel-Tighe on her own but the ‘keeper stopped her attempt four minutes in. On the front foot, the visitors threatened Laurel-Tighe several times, finally finding the opener at the 24th minute.
Chew, very active on her wing, sped past her defender, and her cross was uncharacteristically misjudged by Corinne Denton, offering Megan Castle her first goal, in her first start in her new colours, the forward sweeping home.
The Gunners had not stayed quiet in the meantime. A double save from Summers at the 15th minute frustrated their forward line, and several attempts from distance had kept the keeper on her toes.
Their answer to conceding a goal was immediate. Eight passes and 28 seconds after kick-off, Sharon Chao was in the middle of the box, and an instinctive left footed effort from the former Deakin resident found the bottom corner of Summers’ net, the goalkeeper taken by surprise.
The draw held until the hour mark, despite chances at both ends. Canberra Croatia then developed their own version of a training ground rehearsed attack when the ball travelled from Ellie Summers’ six-yard box to Isabella Barac at the other end in five passes. This was the 63rd minute, and the skilful playmaker displayed all her talent, with a precise and powerful glancing right footed attempt that landed in the opposite top corner.
Gungahlin pushed for the equaliser until the very last seconds of the game, when a run from Alex Martens, seemingly destined for goal, was interrupted by a courageous and decisive Summers. Canberra Croatia is back on the hunt for silverware and are ready to challenge an opponent they know too well on June 8th. We were last treated to a Croatia-Belconnen final in 2021. Three years later, it is time to rekindle the old flame.
STATISTICS
Federation Cup Semi-Final
Gungahlin United 1 (Chao 26’) Canberra Croatia 2 (Castle 25’, Barac 63’)
