Canberra Olympic are the 2024 NPLW League Champions. For the second consecutive season, this time under Frank Cachia, the O’Connor residents were crowned after their success over title rivals Belconnen United at McKellar Park, securing their second trophy in 2024 with a 4-0 win.
The highly anticipated encounter held its promises: great goals, a penalty saved, the crossbar hit twice, and all the intensity and drama were there at McKellar. Anyone late to the game on Sunday would have missed the goal of the afternoon. 70 seconds in, a missile from Nicole Jalocha hit the post before entering just under the top right corner of Monique Pinkiewicz’ goal.
The visitors’ rapid attack had started at the other end with a superb long ball from Elke Aitolu ten seconds before, and immediately set the stage for an entertaining afternoon.
The Blue Devils knew they had to answer quickly and started developing their usual attacking style, yet every incursion near Janet King’s area felt like rubber balls bouncing on a brick wall. The keeper was in fine form, and the defensive line in front of her would make it very hard for Belconnen to get anywhere near the box.
Olympic would try and punish their hosts on the counter. Madelyn Whittall’s speed forced Ailish McDonagh to try a dangerous tackle in the box, and the referee showed the spot kick. In what could have been a huge turn on Sunday, Bowman saw her attempt saved by Pinkiewicz. The Blue Devils alas would take advantage of the shift of momentum despite a succession of set pieces.
Instead, Olympic doubled their lead ten minutes before the break. Jane Vanzino’s powerful shot from the edge of the box crashed on the crossbar, but Whittall was at the rebound to volley the ball past Pinkiewicz. Keira Bobbin was inches to bring her team back in the game, but her half volley would fail on the crossbar. A minute later, her duel with King was won by the keeper, coming to meet her at full speed, which left both players needing some time to recover.
Back from the break, the intensity remained expectedly high. Olympic were playing a bit higher up the pitch, and Frank Cachia’s first substitution ten minutes into the second act would pay off immediately. Ella Brown came in, and on one of her first opportunity, was served by Whittall in the box. Her shot seemed to be parried by Pinkiewicz, only to eventually dip back just under the crossbar.
Stunned, Belconnen tried all they could to come back in the game, although a couple of referee decisions did not go their way, Eventually, Brown again would hammer the last nail in and confirm the League Championship for Olympic five minutes before full time, with a cross that found its way in the back of the net.
Earlier on Sunday, West Canberra Wanderers celebrated their last game at home with a 4-1 win over neighbours Tuggeranong United. A Lauren Hall brace and goals from Zoe Halpin and the inevitable Sarah Whitfield strike on her 150th WNPL game offered the home team a fifth success in 2024. West Canberra were on the front foot from the first whistle, and Ruby Ashton had to show her talent several times in the first few minutes. Unfortunately, on Sunday, Ashton was facing inspired goal scorers that left her little chance. Hall’s first goal, a powerful shot from distance nine minutes in, was slowed down by the keeper, without preventing the goal.
Thirteen minutes later, it was the captain’s turn to score a screamer. 25 meters away. Whitfield controlled, took the time to look towards Ashton, and swerved a left footed effort in the top right corner. Hall found the crossbar twice in the first half, and force Ashton to more saves. The Wanderers would find the back of the net just before the break, thanks to a good movement ending with Allegra Senti finding Zoe Halpin in the box. The midfielder’s precise left foot sent the ball in the lower right corner, out of Ashton’s reach.
The second stanza saw Tuggeranong expressing their football a bit more and bringing the danger upfront more often. Wiggan was forced to make a few saves to delay conceding but ended up getting the ball in her net at the 86th minute. A penalty given for a foul on Jessica Mitchell was converted by Tarah Manthongsy, Tuggeranong’s fifth goal of the season. The visitors’ would be surprised minutes later in her own area by Lauren Hall, who after stealing the ball in the playmaker’s feet, faced Ashton alone to complete her brace.
Travelling North to Hawker Football Centre, Canberra Croatia were a goal behind for most of the game, before ultimately changing the fate of the game with three goals in the last half hour against ANU WFC winning 3-1.
A first alert from Edith Fordyce-Croker failed off target, but at the 10th minute mark, Julia Hogan found the back of the net. Following a corner taken by Sofia Chaverra, the ANU’s number 9’s volley glanced over Ellie Summers, allowing the home team’s goal tally for the season to reach double digit.
Eager to find an answer, the visitors started getting on the front foot more and more, but and focused Clare Joseph was here to resist for almost an hour. In that time, the ANU found themselves in position to increase their advance at times, but Croatia’s youngsters remained vigilant under the guidance of the experienced Rhiannon Fensom.
The Deakin offensive line meanwhile was working on their aim and increasing their threats. The goal from Arusha Chew just past the hour mark felt a just reward. The forward inherited the ball on the right wing and her first deflected cross and whipped the ball with her left foot with too much power for Georgia Ritchie, who had replaced Joseph at half time, to be able to do anything.
Back on level terms, Croatia rode the momentum and five minutes later, Tatum Mazis dribbled past a home team defender to face Ritchie alone. She took her time to calmly snuck the ball between the keeper and her near post and put her team in the lead.
Zoran Glavinic’s players wanted to increase that advantage to finish the season on a success. Ten minutes before the final whistle, Megan Castle was at the start and at the end of the action. After sending Emily Robertson on the right side, she was there ready to pounce when the winger’s attempt could only be parried away by Ritchie. The former Wagga City striker did not hesitate and finished the job from close range.
RESULTS
ROUND 20
Sunday 25 August
West Canberra Wanderers 4 (Hall 9’, 89’, Whitfield 22’, Halpin 45’) Tuggeranong United 1 (Manthongsy 86’ (p))
ANU WFC 1 (Hogan 10’) Canberra Croatia 3 (Chew 63’, Mazis 68’, Castle 81’)
Belconnen United 0 Canberra Olympic 4 (Jalocha 2’, Whittall 36’, Brown 58’, 87’)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Canberra Olympic (C) | 17 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 54 | 11 | +43 | 46 |
| 2 | Belconnen United | 17 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 63 | 19 | +44 | 40 |
| 3 | Gungahlin United | 17 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 40 | 21 | +19 | 35 |
| 4 | Canberra Croatia | 18 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 41 | 32 | +9 | 28 |
| 5 | West Canberra Wanderers | 17 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 23 | 34 | -11 | 17 |
| 6 | ANU WFC | 17 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 59 | -49 | 6 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 17 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 5 | 60 | -55 | 3 |
TOP SCORERS
14: Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United)
13: Madelyn WHITTALL (Canberra Olympic)
11: Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia)
10: Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United)
9: Hattie CRAM (Belconnen United)
8: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United)
7: Megan CASTLE (Canberra Croatia), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic)
6: Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Alex MARTENS (Gungahlin United), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Croatia), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United), Sarah WHITFIELD (West Canberra Wanderers)
5: Tehya ASPLAND (Canberra Olympic),
4: Alexandra GIDIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Lauren HALL (West Canberra Wanderers), Alyse JENSEN (Belconnen United), Tianah MIRO (Canberra Olympic), Alex NEALAND (Gungahlin United), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United)
3: Cara CERUTI (Canberra Olympic), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Zoe HALPIN (West Canberra Wanderers), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United), Own GOALS
2: Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Jaya BOWMAN (Canberra Olympic), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Sharon CHAO (Gungahlin United), Olivia HICKS (West Canberra Wanderers), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Saskia NEWMAN (ANU WFC), Ella PALFRAMAN (Canberra Croatia), Sofia PALYWODA (Belconnen United), Allegra SENTI (West Canberra Wanderers)
1: Angelina BABIC (ANU WFC), Eliza BAKER (ANU WFC), Leila BILLINGTON (Belconnen United), Amy BONGIORNO (Canberra Croatia), Leah CARNEGIE (Canberra Olympic), Sofia CHAVERRA (ANU WFC), Luella COLEMAN (Belconnen United), Stella DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Corinne DENTON (Gungahlin United), Jade EMMS (Belconnen United), Rhiannon FENSOM (Canberra Croatia), Edith FORDYCE-CROKER (ANU WFC), Julia HOGAN (ANU WFC), Elvein IBRHAIM (Tuggeranong United), Tarah MANTHONGSY (Tuggeranong United), Sarah MATTHEWS (Tuggeranong United), Amy MOORE (Gungahlin United), Demi NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Tiana PHILLIPS-MAYNARD (Tuggeranong United), Sienna NESS (Canberra Olympic), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Bronte PYKE (Belconnen United), Bessie RIETHMULLER (Canberra Olympic), Pearl TEIN (Belconnen United), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Olympic), Jane VANZINO (Canberra Olympic), Audrey WARD (West Canberra Wanderers), Matylda WELLS-SHEATHER (Tuggeranong United), Kayla WRIGHT (Gungahlin United), Nadia ZAKMAN (Canberra Croatia)
Words: Jeremy Magan
