The return of Head Coach Dean Ugrinic to the dugout following his reappointment at Canberra Croatia appeared to galvanise last season’s Grand Final winners as they heaped more pressure on Canberra Olympic by convincingly claiming the points in the ‘Canberra Classico’ with a 4-1 success at O’Connor Enclosed.
It’s not often these two giants meet at the foot of the National Premier League table, but that was the reality facing both on a drizzly and overcast afternoon in the National Capital, however it was Croatia who were brightening up proceedings by taking the lead in the 36th minute as Daniel Barac was afforded space to score.
The second goal was always likely to be vital in a contest of this magnitude, and it was the visitors who got it as young forward Nick Pratezina continued his immaculate start to the campaign, bagging his fifth goal of the season before the half-time break as the visitors took control.
There was little response from Olympic, and Croatia went further ahead when Michael Piccolo reacted fastest inside the penalty area to rifle home from close range and take the points away from the home team who are suddenly falling adrift of those above and being dragged into a relegation scrap.
The returning Stephen Domenici is likely to be vital for any Olympic resurgence, and the striker was able to reduce the deficit from the penalty spot with twenty-five minutes remaining, blasting home from 12-yards, giving Croatia goalkeeper and former teammate Sam Brown no chance.
But it was Croatia who were to have the last laugh on the afternoon as Santiago Lupino, on as a second-half substitute, created an opening for Barac to tap home his second and secure a big win that might kickstart Canberra Croatia’s season, Olympic ending with ten as Tupaia Ringi was dismissed.
A second-half goal from substitute Tyson Livermore earned Monaro Panthers a point from a 1-1 draw at home to Tuggeranong United, the Riverside Stadium hosting a fixture that underlined the sheer determination and organisation of the Tuggeranong defence who withstood the Panthers second-half onslaught.
Following on from their Australia Cup Qualifying success over Yoogali SC at Greenway Enclosed on Wednesday, United looked lethargic at times, but held their opponents at arm’s length for the majority of a contest that was keenly fought throughout with a share of the spoils a fair outcome.
A first-half short on quality and chances appeared to be meandering towards a half-time stalemate until Tuggeranong were awarded a penalty with two minutes remaining in the half, Jordan Rezek upended inside the area and captain Sam Walker keeping his cool to leather the spot-kick into the bottom corner.
Monaro’s response was immediate and Roko Strika was at the heart of it, the forward bursting into the area and drawing a foul from Euan Peterkin to earn a penalty of their own. Strika, usually so dependable from the spot thrashed his kick against the bar however, and United led at the break.
Tuggeranong spent most of the second-half defending resolutely but were finally undone with twenty minutes of the game remaining. Ben Basser-Silk was the creator, bursting down the right flank and crossing low for substitute Livermore to slide in and divert the ball past Callum Cook for the equaliser.
Archie McGregor enjoyed a field day at the Solar Mad Stadium in Griffith with the young forward netting all four goals as Tigers FC made the long trip interstate and returned with all three points as they defeated Yoogali SC 4-0.
The hosts, fresh off their heartbreaking defeat to Tuggeranong in the Australia Cup Qualifying Quarter Final, remained rooted to the foot of the league table, three points behind Canberra Olympic, as the Tigers moved onto ten points with a consummate away day performance.
McGregor opened the scoring in the 27th minute, breaking the stubborn Yoogali rearguard, racing clear of the home defence to slide a calm finish under the advancing Luke Armanini. And the young forward was to double his, and his team’s tally, just five minutes later, sweeping home from close range at the end of a well-constructed move.
As the rain continued to fall unabated, the Tigers emerged from the sanctuary of the changing rooms to add a third just three minutes into the second stanza, and it was that man McGregor who would be earning the match-ball as he completed his treble, receiving a pass from Angus Pitkin to ram into the roof of the net.
And McGregor made it four as he followed up a Nikos Kalfas shot that was spilled into his path, leaving him with the easiest of tasks to tap into the net from less than two metres, rounding off a tremendous afternoon’s work.
The top-of-the-table clash between Gungahlin United and O’Connor Knights was postponed due to an unplayable pitch at Woden Park and will be rearranged.
RESULTS
ROUND 6
Saturday 11 May
Canberra Olympic 1 (Domenici 65’ (p)) Canberra Croatia 4 (Barac 36’, 83’, Pratezina 42’, Piccolo 58’)
Monaro Panthers 1 (Livermore 70’) Tuggeranong United 1 (Walker 43’ (p))
Yoogali SC 0 Tigers FC 4 (McGregor 27’, 32’, 48’, 77’)
Sunday 12 May
Gungahlin United v O’Connor Knights – Match Postponed
TABLE
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
1 | Gungahlin United | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 | +14 | 15 |
2 | O’Connor Knights | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 12 |
3 | Tigers FC | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 10 |
4 | Monaro Panthers | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 10 |
5 | Canberra Croatia | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 7 |
6 | Tuggeranong United | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 7 |
7 | Canberra Olympic | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 17 | -5 | 3 |
8 | Yoogali SC | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 23 | -21 | 0 |
TOP SCORERS
10: Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU (Gungahlin United)
5: Archie MCGREGOR (Tigers FC), Nick PRATEZINA (Canberra Croatia)
4: Aisosa IHEGIE (O’Connor Knights)
3: Jenno CERUTI (Monaro Panthers), Luca FLOREZ (Canberra Olympic), Roko STRIKA (Monaro Panthers), Sam WALKER (Tuggeranong United)
2: Micheal ADAMS (O’Connor Knights), Daniel BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Ben BASSER-SILK (Monaro Panthers), Alen JAMES (Canberra Olympic), Michael KATSOULIS (Gungahlin United), Amilio KISTA (Tigers FC), Davaadelger OKTYABRI (Tuggeranong United), Niko PERINOVIC (O’Connor Knights), Michael PICCOLO (Canberra Croatia), Nik TANESKI (Tigers FC), Own GOALS
1: Augustine BANGURA (Gungahlin United), Jack BITANI (Tigers FC), Samson CARR (Tigers FC), Elie DARWICH (Canberra Olympic), Adam DE FRANCESCHI (Monaro Panthers), Joshua DE ROSSI (Yoogali SC), Stephen DOMENICI (Canberra Olympic), Jeremy HABTEMARIAM (Gungahlin United), Thomas JAMES (Canberra Croatia), Michael JOHN (Canberra Olympic), Nikos KALFAS (Tigers FC), Niko KRESIC (O’Connor Knights), Tyson LIVERMORE (Monaro Panthers), Marko MILUTINOVIC (Tigers FC), Shinzaburo NAKAYAMA (Canberra Olympic), Daniel OLAOYE (Gungahlin United), Jackson PAESLER (O’Connor Knights), Joshua PEDERSEN (Tuggeranong United), Jordan REZEK (Tuggeranong United), Sam ROESTBAKKEN (Canberra Olympic), David SESELJA (Canberra Croatia), Patrick SHORE (Canberra Olympic), Julian SMITH (Gungahlin United), Tony SPASESKI (Canberra Croatia), Daniel SUBASIC (Canberra Croatia), Harry TRUMAN (Canberra Olympic), Keegan VUCETIC (Canberra Croatia), Shandon WHITEHEAD (Gungahlin United)