Tigers FC secured a fourth consecutive final success against Canberra Croatia this season, as Ali Efe’s side won 3-0 in an authoritative showing at McKellar Park.
Two previous finals, the early-season Charity Shield, and the cup final in June went the way of Tigers, and after just two minutes in the Grand Final it looked likely to go the club’s way again.
Right from the kickoff, Aidan Milicevic made the most of a turnover in possession and won a set piece in prime attacking territory, having accelerated clear of Lasse Olrik in defence for Canberra Croatia, before being brought down on the edge of the box.
Having scored a free-kick against Canberra Juventus just two weeks prior, Milicevic soon had two set-piece goals in three finals matches, as he fired an effort past Jampel Dorji and the Croatia wall to put his side 1-0 up before either team could even settle into the match.
Two of Croatia’s dangermen up top nearly connected for an equaliser however, although Tigers goalkeeper Willem Lejeune was sharp to prevent Shandon Whitehead getting on the end of a low Mikey Katsoulis cross.
With five minutes remaining in the half Whitehead struck again, however his effort from outside the penalty area, hit on the volley, dipped narrowly over Lejeune’s crossbar and out for a goal kick.
Tigers looked the more likely to claim another in the second period, and on 78 minutes they had their two-goal cushion.
David Owusu pounced on a loose Croatia pass, threaded it through for Milicevic, whose shot on the turn was saved by Dorji, although the second attempt from Augustine Bangura was well struck, and found a way into the back of the net.
Tigers weren’t done there, as Milicevic was released in on goal by a characteristically superb pass from Andrew Pawiak on 89 minutes, before the midfielder squared it for Owusu to claim a third-consecutive finals goal, this time with an empty net to secure the win.
In between the goal, Croatia were reduced to first ten, and then nine men, as defender Lasse Olrik was shown a second yellow, before young winger Lemar Katawazai was sent off for the second-consecutive final against Tigers in the fifth minute of additional time.
