The highly anticipated blockbuster on a rainy Saturday at McKellar held all its promises and, the end of a tight encounter, two second-half goals gave Belconnen United the three points against rivals Canberra Olympic.
The goalless first half is where the visitors can have their regrets. A solid first half-hour saw Frank Cachia’s team dominate the midfield and create several opportunities around the box, without troubling Monique Pinkiewicz.
The Blue Devils, despite at times inviting the danger themselves, weathered the storm and slowly found their way into the game. The last 15 minutes were as a result more even, with a few counter attacks from the home team that kept Olympic on their toes.
The start of the second half painted a different picture. The home team started all guns blazing. 20 seconds in, Lauren Preston forced Janet King to stretch off for a superb save, before the ensuing corner kick saw the keeper boxing the ball away to Sofia Palywoda, at the edge of the box. The midfielder controlled, and immediately swerved the ball perfectly at the near post, with enough power and precision to score.
Stunned, Olympic also had to substitute the injured Madelyn Whittall and Jane Vanzino, as the quick goal increased the intensity of the game, and seconds after coming on, Tehya Aspland nearly missed the target and a potential equaliser.
Teams answered blow for blow until the 65th minute and a special moment for Belconnen United captain Lauren Preston. Pascale La Hei’s first touch in the game made the difference, with a swift turn and a pass to Preston. A quick scramble between two defenders saw Preston ending on top, with a powerful effort from the six-yard box that surprised King.
Olympic tried everything to come back in the game, opening themselves to counter attacks, but both defences and keepers did enough to keep the score unchanged.
A single goal was enough for West Canberra Wanderers to claim the first Southside Derby of the season on Sunday at Melrose against Tuggeranong United. As usual since the start of the season, the home team could count on their captain and striker Sarah Whitfield to break the deadlock.
Both teams would have their moments early, and if West Canberra dominated until the half hour mark, Tuggeranong finished the first act better. Sarah Matthews and Ashlee Smith-Roberts kept Amy Wiggan on her toes, while at the other end, West Canberra was awarded half a dozen corner kicks, albeit comfortably dealt with by the visitors.
The best chance for the home team came seconds before the break, but Lauren Hall’s attempt failed inches away from target. The lack of an end product from both sides did not take away from the show of talent of these two defences, progressing week in week out since the start of the season.
The second at first was more of the same, both teams finding themselves in threatening situations but either missing the last pass, the last shot, or facing a defensive unit always happy to put their body on the line. Cara Ceruti’s powerful attempt rattled the crossbar, but it was Emily Pearce that delayed the fate of the game, when she denied Alexandra Gidis from point blank range.
Tuggeranong’s keeper would finally be beaten 12 minutes before full time. Sarah Whitfield, who has scored every single West Canberra goal in the League this season, was served perfectly by Juliana Robertson, came back on her right foot, and her shot had too much in it for Pearce to push it away.
The thriller at Deakin Stadium was the best way to wrap up the weekend. Trailing two goals to nil and down to ten players with 20 minutes to go, Canberra Croatia avoided the first upset of the season by scoring three with ten players to edge off a combative and deserving ANU WFC on Sunday.
Junior Matilda and Liberty A-League keeper, Georgia Ritchie, on debut, immediately proved her worth with a first save two minutes in. There would be another handful of them to frustrate Canberra Croatia for most of the game.
Seeing their opponents struggling to break the deadlock gave ANU ideas, and eventually they punished the home team. Ten minutes in, Marguerite Sirois recovered the ball 40 meters from goal, immediately seeking danger in the box. A miscommunication in Croatia’s defence saw Sheridan McElligott inheriting the ball in perfect position and beating Ellie Summers from up close.
Deakin’s side efforts to equalize were vain, and they were surprised once again minutes before the break, when Angelina Babic found McElligott, again, at the edge of the box. The forward did not hesitate and with her left foot placed the ball in the top left corner, out of reach for Summers.
Trailing two goals at the break at home is not a common feeling for Canberra Croatia, and it was not for lack of trying. The second half started on the same rhythm and saw more superb efforts from the ANU’s defence and keeper. Things seemed to go from bad to worse at the 70th minute. Jamie Berkeley chased Callie Forrest in her half, and her tackle, although apparently catching plenty of the ball, was deemed an illegal last defender by the referee who brandished a red card.
In retrospect, this was a turning moment for Canberra Croatia. Two minutes later, they were on their way to a ten-minute comeback for the ages with Tatum Mazis’ corner kick successfully headed in by Nadia Zakman. At the 77th minute, Zakman again was rushing down the right wing. Her cross was not blocked by Ritchie, and the ensuing scrambled ended in a very unlucky own goal.
Four minutes later, Zakman was at the assist launching Arusha Chew on the right side. The former Olympic forward might have tried to cross, she might have tried to score, it did not matter, her right footed effort superbly lobbed Ritchie to end in the opposite top corner and see the home team celebrate the unbelievable turnaround.
ANU kept attacking and added to the drama with an attempt off the crossbar and a close call for penalty in the dying minutes, but Zoran Glavinic’s squad kept the three points.
RESULTS
ROUND 6
Saturday 11 May
Belconnen United 2 (Palywoda 47’, Preston 66’) Canberra Olympic 0
Sunday 12 May
West Canberra Wanderers 1 (Whitfield 78’) Tuggeranong United 0
Canberra Croatia 3 (Zakman 73’, Hogan 78’ (og), Chew 81’) ANU WFC 2 (McElligott 11’, 42’)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Belconnen United | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4 | +17 | 15 |
| 2 | Canberra Olympic | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 12 |
| 3 | Gungahlin United | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 11 | +7 | 9 |
| 4 | Canberra Croatia | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 12 | -1 | 6 |
| 5 | West Canberra Wanderers | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 4 |
| 6 | ANU WFC | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 17 | -13 | 2 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 13 | -12 | 1 |
TOP SCORERS
7: Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United)
5: Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United), Alex MARTENS (Gungahlin United), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United)
4: Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia)
3: Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Sarah WHITFIELD (West Canberra Wanderers)
2: Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic)
1: Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Jaya BOWMAN (Canberra Olympic), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Sofia CHAVERRA (ANU WFC), Hattie CRAM (Belconnen United), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Corinne DENTON (Gungahlin United), Jade EMMS (Belconnen United), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Croatia), Saskia NEWMAN (ANU WFC), Ella PALFRAMAN (Canberra Croatia), Sofia PALYWODA (Belconnen United), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Bessie RIETHMULLER (Canberra Olympic), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Olympic), Jane VANZINO (Canberra Olympic), Matylda WELLS-SHEATHER (Tuggeranong United), Kayla WRIGHT (Gungahlin United), Nadia ZAKMAN (Canberra Croatia), Own GOALS
Words: Jeremy Magan
