REVIEW: NPL Men’s Preliminary Finals
Saturday 5 September
NPL Men’s U23s Preliminary Final
Tigers FC vs Tuggeranong United
Deakin Stadium
Tigers FC secured a spot for a second consecutive season in the NPL Men’s U23s Grand Final, after seeing off Tuggeranong United 3-1 at Deakin Stadium.
Tanatswa Bvirakare opened the scoring for Tom Crossley’s side after just 13 minutes, finishing cooly after receiving a quality cross from Alexander Couldrick.
Two minutes later however Tuggeranong struck back, after a routine pass back to the goalkeeper from centre-back Kye Cossentini was missed by Liam Rawlinson, who could only clear the ball away once it had crossed the line to make it 1-1.
With three minutes remaining of the half, a stunning Jack Gibson switch found Couldrick in the box, who controlled well before finding Zachary Colson to finish and put his side a goal up heading into the break.
With just a minute remaining of the 90, late substitute Luke Linton wrapped up Tigers’ passage to the Grand Final, making the most of an error from James Benivento by finishing from the edge of the box into an empty net.
Saturday 5 September
NPL Men’s U23s Preliminary Final
Tigers FC vs Tuggeranong United
Deakin Stadium
Belconnen United bounced back from difficult end of season results in the NPL Men’s U23s to claim a 4-0 win against Monaro Panthers and qualify for next weekend’s Grand Final.
It took until the 27th minute for the Blue Devils to find the breakthrough, as 21-goal Thinley Dorji rose highest at the back post to head home past Keaton Li Chiang, following a looping Jayden Kocanov corner.
It was those two again linking up just nine minutes later, as Kocanov’s free-kick delivery wasn’t dealt with by the Panthers defence, leaving the ball ricocheting into the path of Dorji who finished from close range to make it two.
2-0 the half-time scoreline, Monaro conceding just two minutes after the restart was less than ideal, as Dorji proved too good to contain by finishing off his hat-trick with a low-driven half-volley that found the bottom corner, having been played in behind by Sam York.
Already claiming two key contributions for Dorji’s goals, Jayden Kocanov stepped up to score Belconnen’s fourth on 64 minutes, wriggling free of a few challenges in the penalty area to finish clinically, and send his team sliding into the Grand Final in wet conditions at Deakin Stadium.
Saturday 5 September
NPL Men’s First Grade Preliminary Final
Canberra Croatia vs Queanbeyan City
Deakin Stadium
Having missed out on the Grand Final last season, Canberra Croatia secured their spot on the big stage next weekend by seeing off Queanbeyan City 1-0 at Deakin Stadium.
Queanbeyan made the better start to the match and could’ve taken a one-goal lead just seven minutes in, after Nick Middleton’s goal-kick bounced through for Kelzang Jigme, however the midfielder’s effort only found the crossbar having looped over Jampel Dorji in Croatia’s net.
After miserable first half weather, a sun-soaked start to the second period coincided with an improved Croatia showing, as Dean Ugrinic’s side took a 48th minute lead.
Shandon Whitehead picked up possession off the back of a Queanbeyan turnover, and threaded it through for Mikey Katsoulis, who finished with composure to make it 1-0 Croatia.
Goran Josifovski’s side were unable to find a response in what remained, going close on a couple of occasions but each time met by a Croatia side determined to hang on to their lead.
Saturday 5 September
NPL Men’s First Grade Preliminary Final
Monaro Panthers vs Tigers FC
Deakin Stadium
Tigers FC came from behind for the second finals match in a row, overcoming Monaro Panthers 2-1 to secure another showdown for silverware against Canberra Croatia.
It was the Panthers however that struck after just 12 minutes, as Stephen Domenici found space on the left hand side, and found Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu, who spun and finished past Willem Lejeune to make it 1-0.
A quality strike from Monaro’s number nine had the Panthers up by a goal at the break, however Tigers’ frontman was yet to have his say.
On 67 minutes, fullback Michael Southam did superbly to hold up the ball in the corner, before slipping it in for David Owusu, who powered the ball past Heath Ilitch to draw the game up at 1-1.
With the match heading for extra-time, it was Tigers’ big game-specialist Spencer Barber who again stood up for his side, as Andrew Pawiak won the ball back in his own half, exchanged passes with Owuus before delivering into the path of the Canadian.
A touch around the goalkeeper, and a simple finish into the back of the net was enough to wrap up another impressive finals performance from Ali Efe’s side.
