A brace from Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu and a superb solo goal from new signing Daniel Olaoye helped Gungahlin United to a statement victory in National Premier League Round 2, as the Gunners swept past Canberra Croatia in an absorbing match at Deakin Stadium.
Fixtures between these two giants rarely disappoint, and this was no exception from the moment that Daniel Sparrow was forced to head past his own goalkeeper to give Gungahlin the lead after 27 minutes, following exceptional approach work from winger Augustine Bangura.
That was just the prelude for the sensational second on debut from Olaoye. The English winger collected the ball midway inside Croatia territory, turned and jinked his way past a cluster of defenders into the penalty area where, with one drop of the shoulder, he created space to slot in a sublime goal.
Croatia responded, as they traditionally do. Thomas James converted from inside the box to halve the deficit after excellent work from Atiya Waraga before Nick Pratezina scored for the second week in succession from the bench to bring the scores level.
Enter Ahmed-Shaibu who is in the form of his life. His first was a header at the same end as the goal he struck for Croatia in the Grand Final, the goal almost a replica of that one as Bangura supplied the cross, and the American hitman made it seven goals in two games when freed one on one with Daniel Subasic, beating the defender to finish the game off in style.
Canberra Olympic found their form in Round 2 as they blitzed the visiting Yoogali SC as seven different players scored goals as the home side recorded a comprehensive 7-2 victory that could have been even more but for some fine saves from Yoogali custodian Michael De Paoli.
De Paoli saved a penalty from Michael John, denying the Olympic striker what would have been a fiftieth NPL goal, and also acrobatically palming away a spectacular volley from Luca Florez as Olympic laid siege to the Yoogali goal.
Having conceded twice early in their opening day loss to Monaro Panthers last weekend, it was Olympic’s turn to strike early as Harry Truman took advantage of a mistake in the Yoogali defence to curl a superb finish over the head of De Paoli. When Alen James drove a low shot through a crowded area moments later, the hosts were in command.
Florez broke away to confidently make it three just past the half-hour, before Elie Darwich arrived unmarked to steer home a fine finish at the far post four minutes into first-half stoppage time as Olympic led 4-1 at the interval. Yoogali’s response was a Darren Bailey corner that was diverted into his own net by defender Nathen Megic.
Yoogali needed a fast start to the second-half, but it was Olympic that struck again, Patrick Shore adjudged to have been fouled in the area allowing John to net from the resultant penalty, and it was half-a-dozen when substitute Shinzaburo Nakayama rifled into the far corner.
The magnificent seventh was less than magnificent, as Shore scooped an effort that arced in over De Paoli, meaning that Joshua De Rossi’s fine effort in the final minute wasn’t even worthy of the epithet of ‘consolation’.
The League Champions, O’Connor Knights, finally got their season off and running and did so in some style as they recorded a seventeenth match unbeaten with a 2-1 victory against Monaro Panthers in what was a very evenly-fought encounter in front of a large crowd at the Riverside Stadium.
With their Round 1 fixture against the Tigers falling foul of the weather, it understandably took the Knights a while to settle, but an even first-half was almost bereft of opportunities as the teams cancelled each other out.
The Knights made the breakthrough in some style only two minutes after the resumption of play. Micheal Adams, as he so often is, was the architect, dancing his way past a couple of challenges with silky feet and finding Aisosa Ihegie in space. There was still plenty to do and Ihegie did it in style, cutting inside and placing an adroit finish into the far corner past Jacob Quinn.
And the Champions were able to double their lead in the 64th minute. This time it was Phakedi Manda who created the opening, his quick feet making a yard of space and allowing the winger to find Patrick O’Rourke in front of goal. Driscoll sliced his finish, but the ball fell kindly for Ihegie who swept home.
Monaro set up a grandstand finale by pulling one back with ten minutes to play, substitute Jenno Ceruti meeting a Roko Strika set-piece with a solid header, and but for a slightly errant touch, fellow replacement Zac McLaren might have been in to level. However, the Knights were worthy winners and are determined to retain their crown.
A solid second-half display saw Tigers FC dismiss their Australia Cup Qualifying woes with a 3-0 win over Tuggeranong United at Greenway Enclosed, all three goals coming after the interval to secure the victory.
After a first-half in which Tigers did everything but score, they finally broke the stubborn Tuggeranong resistance with only two minutes on the clock after the resumption. Nikos Kalfas, introduced at the break, made it with a long ball to Nik Taneski. Taneski still had plenty to do but did it brilliantly, cutting past a brace of defenders to lash home.
A second goal swiftly followed as Tuggeranong failed to adequately deal with a Tigers corner. The half clearance fell to Kalfas whose shot at goal was deflected kindly into the path of the waiting Marko Milutinovic, and the defender made no mistake in ramming home from close range.
The points were sealed with thirteen minutes to play when Tigers grabbed their third of the afternoon. Michael Southam was upended inside the area and Kalfas, formerly of Tuggeranong, converted the resultant penalty in off the base of the post.
RESULTS
ROUND 2
Saturday 13 April
Canberra Olympic 7 (Truman 16’, James 19’, Florez 33’, Darwich 45+4’, John 50’ (p), Nakayama 65’, Shore 69’) Yoogali SC 2 (Megic 41’ (og), De Rossi 89’)
Monaro Panthers 1 (Ceruti 80’) O’Connor Knights 2 (Ihegie 47’, 64’)
Sunday 14 April
Tuggeranong United 0 Tigers FC 3 (Taneski 48’, Milutinovic 50’, Kalfas 77’ (p))
Canberra Croatia 2 (James 56’, Pratezina 65’) Gungahlin United 4 (Sparrow 27’ (og), Olaoye 48’, Ahmed-Shaibu 73’, 79’)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Gungahlin United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 6 |
| 2 | Tigers FC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| 3 | Canberra Olympic | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 3 |
| 4 | Monaro Panthers | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 3 |
| 5 | Canberra Croatia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 3 |
| 6 | O’Connor Knights | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 7 | Yoogali SC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 0 |
| 8 | Tuggeranong United | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | -9 | 0 |
TOP SCORERS
7: Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU (Gungahlin United)
2: Aisosa IHEGIE (O’Connor Knights), Nick PRATEZINA (Canberra Croatia), Own GOALS
1: Ben BASSER-SILK (Monaro Panthers), Jenno CERUTI (Monaro Panthers), Elie DARWICH (Canberra Olympic), Adam DE FRANCESCHI (Monaro Panthers), Joshua DE ROSSI (Yoogali SC), Luca FLOREZ (Canberra Olympic), Alen JAMES (Canberra Olympic), Thomas JAMES (Canberra Croatia), Michael JOHN (Canberra Olympic), Nikos KALFAS (Tigers FC), Michael KATSOULIS (Gungahlin United), Marko MILUTINOVIC (Tigers FC), Shinzaburo NAKAYAMA (Canberra Olympic), Daniel OLAOYE (Gungahlin United), Michael PICCOLO (Canberra Croatia), Patrick SHORE (Canberra Olympic), Roko STRIKA (Monaro Panthers), Nik TANESKI (Tigers FC), Harry TRUMAN (Canberra Olympic), Keegan VUCETIC (Canberra Croatia)
