League Champions Canberra Croatia, who received the spoils of finishing top of the pile prior to kick-off, claimed their spot in the NPL U23 Grand Final with a dramatic 5-3 penalty shoot-out win over Gungahlin United following an epic Qualification Final that ended all-square at 2-2.
The Gunners, who twice led, had the chance to progress from the spot in extra-time when they were awarded a penalty with seven minutes remaining, only for Jason Matesa to save from the usually reliable Sebastian Woods, blocking the Gungahlin’s forward’s spot-kick.
Almost immediately Croatia advanced to the other end of the Riverside Stadium as James Godding waltzed past a couple of challenges and curl a fantastic shot high into the top-corner of the net.
It was rough on Gungahlin who had ridden a Croatia storm in the opening forty-five minutes, Heath Ilitch making a trio of excellent saves to deny a rampaging Champions, but after the interval the men in black and white suddenly found their groove and led when Stephen Cerni curled home from just inside box.
Marcus Subasic levelled within five minutes, rising highest to head home amongst a cluster of players and send the match into extra-time, before Sebastian Munoz, found by Woods, slotted home to restore Gunners’ lead. That led to the drama of penalties from where Matesa stood strong to send Croatia into the Grand Final.
Tigers FC moved into the Preliminary Final and a match-up with Gungahlin United following a nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out victory over O’Connor Knights, after the match ended 1-1 after extra-time.
Goalkeeper Kristian Nel was the hero with a brace of excellent saves in the shoot-out to deny the Knights, ending O’Connor’s season and keeping Tigers hopes alive of making it to the Grand Final in two weeks’ time.
The Knights looked like they would progress for large parts of the encounter, especially after taking the lead via a fine finish from Marko Rathouski three minutes before the half-hour mark, a slender advantage that they would take into the half-time interval, but which would soon be matched.
It took Tigers just six minutes to draw level after the resumption as Kye Cossettini struck to make it 1-1 and, after that goal, both teams had chances to win the match in regulation time, plus in the additional half-an-hour of extra-time that was to follow the final whistle.
However, neither could make the critical breakthrough and the match went down to penalties where the Tigers held their nerve, helped by some Smith magic, to progress and end the Knights’ dreams.
QUALIFICATION FINAL
Canberra Croatia 2 (Subasic 66’, Godding 114’) Gungahlin United 2 (Cerni 61’, Munoz 104’) – after extra time, Canberra Croatia won 5-3 on penalties
ELIMINATION FINAL
Tigers FC 1 (Cossettini 51’) O’Connor Knights 1 (Rathouski 27’) – after extra-time, Tigers FC won 4-3 on penalties
