Canberra Olympic scored three times in thirteen minutes to overturn a two-goal deficit at the fifty-minute mark and claim a remarkable 3-2 Preliminary Final victory over Canberra Croatia at the Riverside Stadium and earn a Grand Final spot against Belconnen United in the process.
The League Champions superb second-half turnaround set them up for a third consecutive Grand Final and a chance to compete for a third trophy this season having already won the Charity Shield and the League title.
It all looked so beak prior to that amazing sequence. Tatum Mazis’ pace and wit had just won her a duel with Elke Aitolu, and her technique sent her past Janet King to push the ball in the empty net. Five minutes into the second stanza Canberra Croatia were scoring their second goal of the day, seemingly on their way to an upset in the fifth Canberra Classico in 2024.
Arusha Chew had put her team into the lead twelve minutes in at the Riverside, with a powerful left-footed effort from inside the box, following a good sequence of play for Zoran Glavinic’s players, Dianne Wilson creating the chance with a perfect pass into the path of the ex-Olympic striker.
Croatia had undoubtedly analysed Belconnen’s success against Olympic the previous week and put in place a similar plan. The intensity of the front three in the first forty-five minutes caused all sorts of problems to the Olympic defence, from provoked mistakes to frustrations.
Mazis hit the crossbar ten minutes before the break, before scoring the second goal back from the locker room. The O’Connor residents had shown better intent than against the Blue Devils in the Qualification Final. Nicole Jalocha twice found herself in front of Ellie Summers in the first half, but the Deakin shot-stopper kept her team in the lead.
Michaela Thornton was the first to bring the danger upfront in the second act, and again Summers was in her way. Big games call for big players, and it was Canberra United Madelyn Whittall once again that would bring her team back in the race.
Five minutes after Mazis’ celebrations, Jalocha won her duel in the middle of the park before slotting the ball in space for Whittall. The forward resisted Eliza-Jane Norris before glancing a left footed effort out of reach of Summers.
Four minutes later, a Leah Carnegie free-kick from the halfway line bounced in the box before reaching at the far post Whittall, who had read the trajectory perfectly. Olympic’s leading goal scorer volleyed the ball in with too much venom for Summers to prevent from ending in the back of the net.
The reigning Champions were riding their momentum to perfection, and Croatia seemed to be unable to stop them. The final nail was credit to Jaya Bowman. A rapid succession of passes ended with Ella Brown impeccably serving Bowman in the box, and the midfielder took her time to wrong-foot Summers from close range.
Stunned, the Deakin side were unable to really threaten Janet King until the final five minutes. The keeper stood firm against Brittany Palombi, Tatum Mazis and Megan Castle. The final whistle sent the Canberra Olympic faithfuls in a frenzy, celebrating her team’s third consecutive success against Croatia in the post season.
RESULTS
Sunday 15 September
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Canberra Olympic 3 (Whittall 55’, 59’, Bowman 68’) Canberra Croatia 2 (Chew 12’, Mazis 50’)
Words: Jeremy Magan
