Tigers FC will represent Canberra in the Australia Cup Round of 32 this season, following a 5-1 success against perennial cup-winners Canberra Croatia at McKellar Park last Saturday.
Ali Efe’s side haven’t appeared on the stage since 2021, where Tigers fell to APIA Leichardt 3-0 at Seiffert Oval, and will get the chance once again to make an impact in front of the eyes of the nation.
The eventual winners entered the match without striker David Owusu, however it was the defending champions who’s starting side caught the most attention pre-game, with young winger Lemar Katawazai handed a start with Anthony Rakic, to complete a fresh-faced frontline alongside the experienced Thomas James.
Dean Ugrinic’s team selection was justified 33 minutes in, as Katawazai turned brilliantly away from his marker, and having driven towards goal, laid a pass off to David Seselja, who rocketed an effort into the top corner to put the 20-time cup winners up by one.
A first half which Croatia had the better of looked to be concluding with the away side up by one, however Canadian import Spencer Barber had other ideas, controlling a long pass from Sam Whithear, holding off Seselja, before beating his man and powering a low effort past Andy Tsakalos to bring his side level heading into the break.
The next 45 was a different picture for Tigers, who began to dominate their opponents, and went ahead just seven minutes into the second half as Barber struck again, supplied by the quality of Aidan Milicevic, to complete the turnaround.
Milicevic, who had been a peripheral figure in the first period began to assert his influence on the match, and following quality buildup play between substitutes Eunwoo Choi and Tobias Peil, and composure in front of goal from Barber, the midfielder rattled the ball into the roof of the net to make it three.
With Katawazai sent off for a second yellow on 84 minutes, Tigers wasted no time in piling more misery on their opponents, as Barber smashed in a fourth to complete his hat-trick, before Milicevic converted a late penalty, following Harrison Palic becoming the second player dismissed, to wrap up a five-goal showing from the home side.
Efe at the conclusion of the match, commented on how significant the achievement was.
“We were preparing for this the last three years,” he said. “[In the] first year we failed in the first round, the second year the semi-final, this year we were really hungry, it’s a great feeling, it’s big for my club, I believe [it’s] well deserved, it’s excellent, I can’t describe it to be honest.”
Having endured a first half that Croatia had the better of, the Tigers Head Coach attributes tactical changes made at the break as a key contributor to changing his side’s fortunes in the second period.
“We addressed issues [that] we [were] facing, the first 20 minutes we started well then dropped a lot, the message was getting back into the game, winning in the midfield was really important for us and also we talked about the front pressure structure… and then also making two subs [at] half time, changing the play style a little bit, it helped a lot.”
With one of the keys being the incredible performance of new signing in 2026 Spencer Barber, Efe said having wanted to bring him to Tigers for a while, he is happy he is here.
“Every player has challenges, it’s really not easy, it happened last year with William Akio as well, I [have been] having a really long time to agree with these players, long conversations, the challenge is always bringing new internationals here, new life, no family, no friends, that chemistry, gelling time, is a really biggest problem for them, and I showed him lots of trust… he had difficulties and injuries,” he commented. “I wanted to have him actually [for] the last two years, and he is showing now [his] quality.
“Leave everything to one side, football [to] one side, Spencer and all my players are all amazing human beings.”
It’s a return to the national stage that the club have been striving for, and having achieved it, will be relishing the opportunity to be Canberra’s representative in the final stages of the Australia Cup.
“In my coaching career in Australia, the last three years I [have been] in the NPL, I had different games, different finals, different cups in Europe, [for] 70, 80 percent of my players, it’s their first time qualifying for the last 32,” Efe said. “As a coach at my club it’s the first for me as well, this is an amazing feeling.”
STATISTICS
AUSTRALIA CUP QUALIFYING FINAL
Saturday 6 June
Tigers FC 5 (Barber 45+2’, 52’, 90+1’, A.Milicevic 78’, 90+7’ pen) Canberra Croatia 1 (Seselja 33’)
THE LINE-UPS
Tigers FC: 99. Willem LEJUENE, 3. Michael SOUTHAM, 4. Marko MILUTINOVIC (18. Angus PITKIN 45’), 5. Tobias PEIL, 6. Josh MILICEVIC (20. Jack BITANI 52’ (5. Tobias PEIL 68’)), 7. Andrew PAWIAK (2. Noah STEINACKER 90+2’) , 8 Samuel WHITHEAR, 10. Aidan MILICEVIC, 11.Augustine BANGURA (14. Eunwoo CHOI 45’), 15. Elijah HOWE, 22. Spencer BARBER, 36. Cassidy SCHLESINGER
Canberra Croatia: 1. Andy TSAKALOS, 2. David SESELJA (16. Andrija RAKIC 83’), 4. Mathew GRBESA, 8. Shandon WHITEHEAD, 9. Thomas JAMES (7. Jason UGRINIC 90’), 10. Daniel COLBERTALDO, 12. Lemar KATAWAZAI, 13. Riley ZSUZSA, 15. Anthony RAKIC (11. Kade LYONS 71’), 19. Tony SPASESKI, 22. Nikola JADRIC (3. Harrison PALIC 83’)
Substitute not used: 20. Oliver HAWKINS, 23. Cameron YOUNG
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Joshua EISER
Assistant Referees: Thomas GELLATLY, Thomas STUPARICH
Fourth Official: Hamish RAE
DISCIPLINE
Yellow Cards: 7. Andrew PAWIAK (Tigers FC), 12. Lemar KATAWAZAI (Canberra Croatia), 10. Daniel COLBERTALDO (Canberra Croatia), 4. Mathew GRBESA (Canberra Croatia), 22. Spencer BARBER (Tigers FC), 10. Aidan MILICEVIC (Tigers FC), 12. Lemar KATAWAZAI (Canberra Croatia), 9. Thomas JAMES (Canberra Croatia), 10. Aidan MILICEVIC
Red Card: 12. Lemar KATAWAZAI (Canberra Croatia), 3. Harrison PALIC (Canberra Croatia)
Words: Sam Watson
