Canberra Olympic won a third consecutive Grand Final against Belconnen United, thanks to a dominating first-half during which the two goals were scored. Trophyless before 2022, the O’Connor outfit is now hanging some silverware in their cabinet for the sixth time.
Player of the match Nicole Jalocha’s thumping left footed effort eight minutes before the break summed up the first half well. Taken with her first touch, the missile from outside the box found the top left corner with so much power it could have ripped through the net.
Frank Cachia and his players had learned from the Qualification Final. They were the ones to start the game with high intensity, and with the wind behind their backs, they spent the first ten minutes harassing the Blue Devils, cornered in their own half.
The reward came quarter of an hour in, with the little bit of luck needed in the big moment. A cross from Madelyn Whittall bounced awkwardly in the box surprising Monique Pinkiewicz, and Tianah Miro was the quickest to pounce, turn around the keeper and bury the ball in the empty net.
As has been the case in the last ten encounters between the two rivals, the team to open to score would go on to take the spoils. Not satisfied with one goal, Olympic kept pushing, preventing Belconnen from developing their usual brand of football.
Keira Bobbin alone for most of the first half tried to rally the troops and might have levelled but was unable to take a chance when played in. It was a fact repeated in the second-half as Bobbin blazed wide after showing the defence a clean pair of heels.
Scott Conlon’s team finally start to come out of their shell after that superb Jalocha effort that put Olympic two goals clear. The last minutes of the first half almost brought the Blue Devils back in the game, but Janet King and her defence were focused enough to keep their team’s lead untouched.
The future Champions were happy in the second half to let Belconnen take control of the game and manage their advance. Belconnen made attacking changes, throwing all they had at Janet King, and thought they had finally found the solution fifteen minutes before the full-time whistle.
Reilly Yuen, a permanent threat in the second act, found a way behind the defence and won her duel with King, only to see the flag raised for offside.
Neither Bobbin’s efforts, nor Isabella Hindmarsh’s set pieces would find a way through the Olympic wall. The defensive heroics of the O’Connor residents could not be commended enough on Saturday, with every player making the efforts to restrain their rivals.
Canberra Olympic could celebrate with a third trophy in Frank Cachia’s first season at the helm and prove a once more that they are the dominant force in the Capital.
MATCH STATISTICS
Saturday 21 September
GRAND FINAL
Belconnen United 0 Canberra Olympic 2 (Miro 14’, Jalocha 37’)
Belconnen United: 1. Monique PINKIEWICZ, 3. Lauren PRESTON, 5. Alyse JENSEN (29. Luella COLEMAN 82’), 6. Maddie STEINACKER (17. Alina ROBERTS 68’), 10. Hattie CRAM (12. Marija RATHOUSKI 64’), 11. Keira BOBBIN, 13. Lisa CARY, 17. Alyssa DI-CAMPLI, 18. Isabella HINDMARSH, 22. Reilly YUEN, 34. Bronte PYKE
Substitutes not used: 26. Caitlin KOCH, 30. Isabella SHEA
Canberra Olympic: 1. Janet KING, 5. Madelyn WHITTALL, 8. Michaela THORNTON, 9. Elke AITOLU (16. Cara CERUTI 82’), 10. Katrina PERIC, 11. Tianah MIRO (19. Leah CARNEGIE 82’), 17. Nicole JALOCHA, 18. Liana ALVES (15. Tia BURRIDGE 90+3’), 20. Jaya BOWMAN, 23. Victoria JAMIESON, 44. Ella BROWN (3. Sienna BIRNIE 75’)
Substitutes not used: 40. Jelena JOSIPOVIC
DISCIPLINE
Yellow Cards: 22. Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United)
Red Cards: None
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Lauren RIDDEL
Assistant Referees: Thomas MCGLADE, Perry KALYVAS
Fourth Official: Aisha STRUTT
Player of the Match: 17. Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic)
Words: Jeremy Magan
