A tale of set-pieces at the Australian Institute of Sport told the story of Canberra Croatia’s 3-2 victory over Tigers FC in Round 17 of the National Premier League, a return to form for the visitors that kept alive their hopes of landing the NPL silverware whilst the defeat made Tigers attempt on the crown a virtual impossibility.
Indeed, Tigers are staring nervously at those around them as their hopes of even a finals’ placing are in jeopardy following what was a fifth game without a victory for Ali Efe and his men. Tigers enjoyed plenty of possession but failed to really trouble Jason Matesa in the Croatia goal, the custodian selected in place of the injured Sam Brown.
It hadn’t appeared to be that way in the early stages as Tigers FC hit the lead after only three minutes with as straightforward a goal as you could possibly imagine. Awarded a free-kick midway inside the Croatia half, Nik Taneski floated in a perfectly weighted, and angled, ball that was met by Captain Sam Whithear, who coolly headed home his fourth of the season.
Whithear later was forced to leave the field after suffering an Achilles injury, but by that stage his team had surrendered their advantage to a similar goal. Ryan Keir, on the occasion of his 200th NPL appearance, jumped highest to meet a Thomas James free-kick and equalise.
Croatia weren’t done and, by the half-time whistle had turned the match on its head. Yet another free-kick provided the source for the goal, James again the architect with a perfect cross that was nodded past Kristian Nel in the Tigers goal by former Tiger Tony Spaseski, precipitating a bizarre celebration dance.
There was always a feeling that Croatia needed a third to make the match secure, and they had to wait until six minutes from time to get it as substitute Nick Pratezina was sent on and netted his eighth goal of a fruitful season for the young striker. That goal made Nik Taneski’s late direct free-kick, as classy as it was, redundant in the scheme of the result.
A depleted O’Connor Knights saw a two-goal lead disappear as they were forced to share the points in a 2-2 draw with Tuggeranong United at O’Connor Enclosed, however, they may have been grateful to come away with a point given the amount of openings that the visitors spurned, especially in a vibrant and exciting start to the contest.
United wasted numerous opportunities to go in front against a Knights team shorn of four of the stars of their heroic Australia Cup Round of 32 exit against Macarthur FC at GIO Stadium in midweek, unable to find a way past Seb Arranz in the home goal despite creating several clear-cut chances.
Mitch Stevens’ team were to pay for their profligacy when they conceded yet another penalty twenty minutes before the break for a shove just inside the penalty area. Patrick O’Rourke stepped up to calmly convert and give the Knights the advantage, which they were to double in first-half stoppage time.
Coughing up possession midway inside their own half, Tuggeranong could only watch on as centre-back Kristian Tokic advanced before unleashing a dipping, swerving, shot that arced over Callum Cook in goal who, even at full-stretch, was unable to get even a finger on a quite brilliant effort.
This United are made of stern stuff though and gave themselves a glimmer by finally taking a chance in the seventieth minute. Steve Nealon’s deft touch sent Bevan Foxall galloping away down the left flank and his blistering finish, rising past Arranz and crashing into the roof of the net, reduced the arrears.
And Tuggeranong rescued a point with six minutes remaining. Matt Williams created it, standing up an inviting cross to the back post after recovering a Nealon shot that ricocheted to the byline, which was met by Sam Walker who planted a firm header into the unguarded goal for 2-2.
Unbelievably, the Knights almost stole the points with the last kick of the match. The men from O’Connor have made a habit of nicking games at the death this term, and perhaps should have done so again. Niko Kresic’s pass was missed by Foxall and Niko Perinovic, well-placed in front of goal, could only steer his shot wide of the post.
Gungahlin United maintained their five-point lead at the top of the NPL table following a narrow 1-0 win over struggling Canberra Olympic at the Australian Institute of Sport, the victory confirmed via a solitary goal netted in first-half stoppage time from forward Romeo.
The bleach-blond striker was on hand to steer home from close range after excellent approach work from Jack Green had forged an opening for lively winger Michael Katsoulis to fire a low cross across the face of the six-yard box from where Romeo was able to pounce with almost the last kick of the half.
It was broadly deserved, Gunners dominating the majority of the possession and creating a swathe of chances only to be denied by the sensational goalkeeping of Olympic stopper Sebastian Usai. The gloveman beat away a fierce Riley Brown effort in the second stanza, and twice clawed clear a pair of Romeo headers that appeared destined for the net.
Katsoulis sae a shot blocked by Usai’s legs, and Augustine Bangura was also thwarted by the alertness of Olympic’s number one. Even when he was beaten, the woodwork came to the rescue, Romeo clattering the bar from a gilt-edged chance only six-yards out, whilst Green saw a header come back off the upright.
Olympic defended like trojans. Sam Roestbakken was magnificent in shutting down the threat afforded by his flank, whilst Lasse Olrik and Nicholas Subasic stood firm as pillars of the central defence. Elsewhere, bodies were committed, being flung into blocking shots harrying and pressing at pre-arranged moments and recovering with enthusiastic endeavour.
And Olympic had their moment in the first-half. A nice move down the left-hand side allowed Michael John to steal free in front of goal, but his shot was brilliantly blocked by the knees of Aidan Munford. That was as good as it got in an attacking sense for Olympic and, despite losing the match, the plaudits were theirs, for a spirited response.
Monaro Panthers reclaimed fourth spot on the NPL ladder as they returned from Solar Mad Stadium in Griffith having halted a mini-Yoogali SC resurgence with a comprehensive 3-0 victory in a match that was feisty from start to finish, punctuated by some well-worked Panthers goals.
Having given themselves a hint of National Premier League survival thanks to their 1-0 win over Canberra Olympic in Round 16, Yoogali entered the match full of confidence and eager to secure the three points that might lift them above Olympic and into a position of safety. It was therefore disappointing for the home fans to concede twice early on.
The manner of the goals will have frustrated the Yoogali coaching staff as well. Roko Strika took them both, moving his personal goals tally onto eleven for the season in the progress, with the minimum of fuss. The first, a simple header nodded home from a right-wing corner a dozen minutes in, the second calmly slotted in from the penalty spot after a foul inside the area.
Trailing by a couple, Yoogali needed to do something that had managed just once in the NPL all season, score three times and, even when they did that they were unfortunate to lose 3-4 at the same venue to Olympic. The chance for an unlikely recovery was put to bed though when Jenno Ceruti nodded in from two yards early in the second-half to seal the Monaro victory.
RESULTS
ROUND 17
Saturday 3 August
O’Connor Knights 2 (O’Rourke 26’ (p), Tokic 45+1’) Tuggeranong United 2 (Foxall 70’, Walker 84’)
Tigers FC 2 (Whithear 4’, Taneski 90+4’) Canberra Croatia 3 (Keir 25’, Spaseski 33’, Pratezina 86’)
Sunday 4 August
Yoogali SC 0 Monaro Panthers 3 (Strika 12’, 17’ (p), Ceruti 49’)
Gungahlin United 1 (Romeo 45+1’) Canberra Olympic 0
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Gungahlin United* | 17 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 45 | 17 | +28 | 40 |
| 2 | Canberra Croatia | 17 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 44 | 24 | +20 | 35 |
| 3 | O’Connor Knights | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 24 | +9 | 33 |
| 4 | Monaro Panthers | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 17 | +13 | 28 |
| 5 | Tigers FC** | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 22 | +15 | 25 |
| 6 | Tuggeranong United | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 26 | 30 | -4 | 20 |
| 7 | Canberra Olympic | 17 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 20 | 48 | -28 | 6 |
| 8 | Yoogali SC | 17 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 59 | -51 | 4 |
TOP SCORERS
17: Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU (Gungahlin United)
11: Roko STRIKA (Monaro Panthers), Atiya WARAGA (Canberra Croatia)
8: Daniel BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Nick PRATEZINA (Canberra Croatia)
7: Micheal ADAMS (O’Connor Knights)
6: Augustine BANGURA (Gungahlin United), Jeremy HABTEMARIAM (Gungahlin United), Aisosa IHEGIE (O’Connor Knights), Own GOALS
5: Jenno CERUTI (Monaro Panthers), Luca FLOREZ (Canberra Olympic), Michael KATSOULIS (Gungahlin United), Archie MCGREGOR (Tigers FC), Steve NEALON (Tuggeranong United), Keegan VUCETIC (Canberra Croatia), Sam WALKER (Tuggeranong United)
4: Ben BASSER-SILK (Monaro Panthers), Stephen DOMENICI (Canberra Olympic), Nikos KALFAS (Tigers FC), Niko KRESIC (O’Connor Knights), Davaadelger OKTYABRI (Tuggeranong United), Jackson PAESLER (O’Connor Knights), Nik TANESKI (Tigers FC), Sam WHITHEAR (Tigers FC), Shandon WHITEHEAD (Gungahlin United)
3: Alen JAMES (Canberra Olympic/O’Connor Knights), Amilio KISTA (Tigers FC), Joshua MILICEVIC (Tigers FC), Tomohiro OGAWA (Tigers FC), Daniel OLAOYE (Gungahlin United), Patrick O’ROURKE (O’Connor Knights), ROMEO (Gungahlin United), Daniel SPARROW (Canberra Croatia)
2: Joshua DE ROSSI (Yoogali SC), Nic EMANUEL (Tuggeranong United), Bevan FOXALL (Tuggeranong United), Michael JOHN (Canberra Olympic), Tyson LIVERMORE (Monaro Panthers), Santiago LUPINO (Monaro Panthers), Zac MCLAREN (Monaro Panthers), Joshua PEDERSEN (Tuggeranong United), Niko PERINOVIC (O’Connor Knights), Michael PICCOLO (Canberra Croatia), Jordan REZEK (Tuggeranong United), Daniel SUBASIC (Canberra Croatia), Kristian TOKIC (O’Connor Knights), Harry TRUMAN (Canberra Olympic)
1: Angus BAILEY (Tigers FC), Jack BITANI (Tigers FC), Samson CARR (Tigers FC), Izach CLEMENTS (Canberra Olympic), Elie DARWICH (Canberra Olympic), Adam DE FRANCESCHI (Monaro Panthers), James DRISCOLL (O’Connor Knights), Lachlan FIELDS (O’Connor Knights), Axel GARBIN (Yoogali SC), Jack GREEN (Gungahlin United), Marley JACKSON (Tigers FC), Thomas JAMES (Canberra Croatia), Christopher JOHN (Yoogali SC), Ryan KEIR (Canberra Croatia), Chirstian KRESKAS (Monaro Panthers), Zac LAWRENCE (Tuggeranong United), Jack LEVERETT (Tuggeranong United), Marko MILUTINOVIC (Tigers FC), Patrick MITCHELL (Monaro Panthers), Shinzaburo NAKAYAMA (Canberra Olympic), Alessandro PENA (Tigers FC), Euan PETERKIN (Tuggeranong United), Joe PREECE (Yoogali SC), Sam ROESTBAKKEN (Canberra Olympic), Tony SPASESKI (Canberra Croatia), David SESELJA (Canberra Croatia), Patrick SHORE (Canberra Olympic), Julian SMITH (Gungahlin United), Michael SOUTHAM (Tigers FC), Tony SPASESKI (Canberra Croatia), Luke STEVENS (Tuggeranong United), Antoni TIMOTHOEU (Gungahlin United), Ryan ZANATTA (Yoogali SC)
*Gungahlin United deducted three points for field an ineligible player in the 3-0 win against Tigers FC
**Tigers FC awarded a 3-0 win, and three points, for Gungahlin United fielding an ineligible player
