League Champions Canberra Croatia received their trophy on an afternoon in which they also hit seven, striker Nick Pratezina grabbing himself a hat-trick to claim the NPL Golden Boot as his team defeated Tuggeranong United 7-2 at Deakin Stadium.
Pratezina got the ball rolling on the half-hour converting a pass from Thomas James, one of three assists for the outstanding forward, and that was the only action of a rather tepid opening forty-five minutes, both teams finals fate decided before the kick-off of this encounter.
However, once Bevan Foxall equalised for United, turning in from close range after Tim Santos had squared, Croatia kicked into gear. Maxx Green, on as a substitute steered home the hosts second, before Pratezina raised hopes if a Golden Boot win by tapping in a Keegan Vucetic cross.
The last five minutes, plus two minutes if added time, were madcap as five goals were scored. Daniel Subasic supplied two of them, one from a knee and one from a head, whilst James scored an outrageous goal from just inside the Tuggeranong half for another. Steve Nealon responded for Tuggeranong with his fifteenth of the year.
But, it was Croatia’s fifth that mattered most, Green backheeling into Pratezina’s path for the Croatia hitman to roll home his nineteenth of the season and claim the Golden Boot award.
Yoogali SC ended the OPC NPL season with their heads held high with a thumping defeat of O’Connor Knights at Solar Mad Stadium in Griffith, the hosts flexing their muscles with a well-deserved 7-1 success.
The home team struck with virtually their first attack of the contest, taking the lead in the ninth minute. Chaise Donetto advanced down the left flank unopposed and found Danny Reid who curled an excellent finish across Markus Smith and into the far post.
It got even better for the men from the Riverina seven minutes later as they scored again. A cross into the area was not cleared fully and Sam Raciti thumped into the back of the net. Shortly later, two became three, Darren Bailey putting one on a plate for Reid to tap in from close range after a typically bulldozing run.
Bailey got on the scoresheet himself in the second-half, breaking onto a Reid pass to dink an exquisite finish over Smith, before Reid completed his hat-trick from the spot in the 68th minute.
Incredibly, Yoogali weren’t done, Bailey providing a first NPL foal for substitute Fabian Cacopardo with twelve minutes to play. Cacopardo returned the compliments moments later, before a late strike from Harry Martin looped over Luke Armanini and into the net. It was of no consequence however as Yoogali won handsomely.
Tigers FC did enough to make sure they would be playing in the Qualification Final against Canberra Croatia nest weekend as they registered the three points they needed with a nervy 3-1win over Queanbeyan City at the Australian Institute of Sport.
Tigers opened the scoring in the nineteenth minute after a great spell of possession. Shandon Whitehead added some impetus by advancing with the ball, sending Nik Taneski away on the left, and continuing his run to meet the cross with a well-struck half-volley into the bottom corner.
Queanbeyan put the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons when they equalised in the second-half. Seth Bonnett was denied by Willem Lejeuene, but Thomas Blazevkki netted the rebound.
Tigers FC needed a hero, and it was Nik Popovich who stepped up from the bench for the job. Firstly, he accepted a pass from Augustine Bangura to curl home with four minutes to go and then exchanged passes twice with Noah Steinacker to stroll the ball into the net and complete the vital victory.
Gungahlin United hopes of making the top four were dashed on Saturday evening as a Monaro Panthers team, missing six regular first team players who were rested or suspended still proved far too good with a 5-1 victory at Stryda Park.
Gunners had their moments, a beautifully taken goal by Giancarlo D’Addario the pick of them, the forward also denied by a magnificent save from substitute goalkeeper Gerion Mehmetaj, the shot-stopper also reacting acrobatically to turn a Thomas Straub deflection over the bar late on.
Mehmetaj also saved a second-half penalty from Yoshida Shoki, the second spot kick of the half for the Gunners that was not converted, Ayu Kimura earlier sending his penalty against inside of the post whilst Shoki cannoned a shot off the inside of the other post as Gunners luck ran dry.
Panthers though were always in control after Daniel Barac steered them ahead with his eighteenth goal of the season, and after Stephen Domenici had found a way through to blast home for 2-1 in the 38th minute, the points always looked likely to remain in New South Wales.
Connor Mynott-Smith curled home a stunner just before the break and, after the Gunners near misses, Domenici rose to nod home the fourth. He completed his hat-trick in some style, clipping a long-range shot over the retreating Aiden Munford as the hosts set sail for the Finals in style.
RESULTS
ROUND 21
Saturday 30 August
Yoogali SC 7 (Reid 9’, 23’, 68’ (p), Raciti 16’, Bailey 58’, 78’, Cacopardo 74’) O’Connor Knights 1 (Martin 81’)
Tigers FC 3 (Whitehead 19’, Popovich 86’, 89’) Queanbeyan City 1 (Blazevski 83’)
Monaro Panthers 5 (Barac 13’, Domenici 38’, 59’, 73’, Mynott-Smith 41’) Gungahlin United 1 (D’Addario 15’)
Sunday 31 August
Canberra Croatia 7 (Pratezina 30’, 72’, 86’, Green 66’, D. Subasic 85’, 90+2’, James 89’) Tuggeranong United 2 (Foxall 63’, Nealon 90+1’)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Canberra Croatia | 21 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 82 | 26 | +56 | 51 |
| 2 | Tigers FC | 21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 50 | 33 | +17 | 43 |
| 3 | Monaro Panthers | 21 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 64 | 24 | +40 | 42 |
| 4 | Tuggeranong United | 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 31 | 50 | -19 | 27 |
| 5 | Gungahlin United | 21 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 34 | 58 | -24 | 25 |
| 6 | Queanbeyan City | 21 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 20 | 36 | -16 | 24 |
| 7 | Yoogali SC | 21 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 31 | 49 | -18 | 15 |
| 8 | O’Connor Knights | 21 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 33 | 70 | -37 | 11 |
TOP SCORERS
19: Nick PRATEZINA (Canberra Croatia)
18: Daniel BARAC (Monaro Panthers)
16: Thomas JAMES (Canberra Croatia)
15: Maxx GREEN (Canberra Croatia), Steve NEALON (Tuggeranong United)
12: Stephen DOMENICI (Monaro Panthers)
10: Yoshida SHOKI (Gungahlin United)
9: William AKIO (Tigers FC)
8: Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU (O’Connor Knights/Tigers FC), Ayumu KIMURA (Gungahlin United), Connor MYNOTT-SMITH (Monaro Panthers), Daniel SPARROW (Canberra Croatia)
7: Jenno CERUTI (O’Connor Knights), Own GOALS
6: Nico ABOT (Queanbeyan City), Jayce DOTSON (Yoogali SC), Michael JOHN (O’Connor Knights), Danny REID (Yoogali SC)
5: Darren BAILEY (Yoogali SC), Giancarlo D’ADDARIO (Gungahlin United), Aisosa IHEGIE (O’Connor Knights), Nik POPOVICH (Tigers FC), Daniel SUBASIC (Canberra Croatia), Robert TKATCHENKO (Monaro Panthers)
4: Ben BASSER-SILK (Monaro Panthers/Tigers FC), Ryan KEIR (Canberra Croatia), Christian KRESKAS (Monaro Panthers), Loick Bevan FOXALL (Tuggeranong United), LESPINASSE (Gungahlin United), Archie MCGREGOR (Tigers FC), Michael PICCOLO (Monaro Panthers / Canberra Croatia)
3: Mason DONADEL (Yoogali SC), Stefan DONADEL (Yoogali SC), Zac LAWRENCE (Tuggeranong United), Phakedi MANDA (Monaro Panthers/O’Connor Knights), Joshua MILICEVIC (Tigers FC), Misko NAUMOSKI (Queanbeyan City), Tomohiro OGAWA (Tigers FC), Thomas ROBERTSON (Gungahlin United), Noah STEINACKER (Tigers FC), Nik TANESKI (Tigers FC), Sam WHITEHEAR (Tigers FC)
2: Micheal ADAMS (O’Connor Knights), Gabriel AYUEL (Queanbeyan City), Angus BAILEY (Tigers FC / Gungahlin United), Augustine BANGURA (Tigers FC), Thomas BLAZEVSKI (Queanbeyan City), Daniel COLBERTALDO (Canberra Croatia), Dylan DEEP-JONES (Monaro Panthers), Abderrahim DELLAHI (Queanbeyan City), FERNANDO Jorquera (Monaro Panthers), Josh GASPARI (Gungahlin United), Marko JADRIC (Canberra Croatia), Romeo JAMBREK (Tuggeranong United), Nikos KALFAS (Tigers FC), Jack LEVERETT (Queanbeyan City), Luca MACOR (Monaro Panthers), Harry MARTIN (O’Connor Knights), Marko MILUTINOVIC (Tigers FC), Sam RACITI (Yoogali SC), Ryan STRAUB (Monaro Panthers), Keegan VUCETIC (Canberra Croatia)
1: Connor BILL (O’Connor Knights), Seth BONNETT (Queanbeyan City), Fabian CACOPARDO (Yoogali SC), Isaac DONADEL (Yoogali SC), Nic EMANUEL (Tuggeranong United), Cole FALCO (Tuggeranong United), Luca FLOREZ (Gungahlin United), Daniel GALIC (O’Connor Knights), Jack GREEN (Gungahlin United), Nikola JADRIC (Canberra Croatia), Chistian JUNNA (O’Connor Knights), Niko KRESIC (O’Connor Knights), Alex-Junior MALAUULU (Gungahlin United), Zac MCLAREN (Monaro Panthers), Nathen MEGIC (Tigers FC), Alessandro PENA (Tuggeranong United), Jack PERAIC-CULLEN (Canberra Croatia), Euan PETERKIN (Tuggeranong United), Marko RATHOUSKI (O’Connor Knights), Daniel ROBERTS (Queanbeyan City), Joey SEO (Yoogali SC), Michael SOUTHAM (Tigers FC), Nicholas SUBASIC (Canberra Croatia), Giuseppe TINE (Monaro Panthers), Daler TOKHIROV (Yoogali SC), Noah VANDERPOL (Queanbeyan City), Hamish WALES (Tigers FC), Sam WALKER (Tuggeranong United), Shandon WHITEHEAD (Tigers FC), Riley ZSUZSA (Canberra Croatia)
TOP ASSISTS
23: Thomas JAMES (Canberra Croatia)
9: Daniel BARAC (Monaro Panthers), Maxx GREEN (Canberra Croatia), Christian KRESKAS (Monaro Panthers)
8: Phakedi MANDA (Monaro Panthers/O’Connor Knights), Nick PRATEZINA (Canberra Croatia)
7: Yoshida SHOKI (Gungahlin United)
6: William AKIO (Tigers FC), Darren BAILEY (Yoogali SC), Stephen DOMENICI (Monaro Panthers), Nik TANESKI (Tigers FC)
5: Tony SPASESKI (Canberra Croatia), Keegan VUCETIC (Canberra Croatia)
4: Connor MYNOTT-SMITH (Monaro Panthers), Nik POPOVICH (Tigers FC), Danny REID (Yoogali SC), Thomas ROBERTSON (Gungahlin United), Shandon WHITEHEAD (Tigers FC), Sam WHITHEAR (Tigers FC), Kobi YARIYARI (O’Connor Knights)
3: Daniel COLBERTALDO (Canberra Croatia), Giancarlo D’ADDARIO (Gungahlin United), Josh DE ROSSI (Yoogali SC), Chaise DONETTO (Yoogali SC), James DRISCOLL (O’Connor Knights), Cole FALCO (Tuggeranong United), Aisosa IHEGIE (O’Connor Knights), Marko JADRIC (Canberra Croatia), Jack LEVERETT (Queanbeyan City), Michael PICCOLO (Monaro Panthers), Archie MCGREGOR (Tigers FC), Tomohiro OGAWA (Tigers FC), Noah STEINACKER (Tigers FC), Luke STEVENS (Tuggeranong United), Nicholas SUBASIC (Canberra Croatia), Robert TKATCHENKO (Monaro Panthers), Riley ZSUZSA (Canberra Croatia)
2: Micheal ADAMS (O’Connor Knights), Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU (O’Connor Knights/Tigers FC), Angus BAILEY (Tigers FC), Riley BROWN (Gungahlin United), Nikita BYRNES (Gungahlin United), Abderrahim DELLAHI (Queanbeyan City), Nic EMANUEL (Tuggeranong United), Bevan FOXALL (Tuggeranong United), Daniel GALIC (O’Connor Knights), Michael JOHN (O’Connor Knights), Nikos KALFAS (Tigers FC), Loick LESPINASSE (Gungahlin United), AJ MALAUULU (Gungahlin United), Joshua MILICEVIC (Tigers FC), Josh PEDERSEN (Tuggeranong United), Marko RATHOUSKI (O’Connor Knights), Robbie RIMMER (Yoogali SC), Daniel ROBERTS (Queanbeyan City), Daniel SPARROW (Canberra Croatia), Ryan STRAUB (Monaro Panthers)
1: Samuel ABA (Queanbeyan City), Niko ABOT (Queanbeyan City), Augustine BANGURA (Tigers FC), Ben BASSER-SILK (Monaro Panthers), Connor BILL (O’Connor Knights), Thomas BLAZEVSKI (Queanbeyan City), Seth BONNETT (Queanbeyan City), Sam BROWN (Canberra Croatia), Fabian CACOPARDO (Yoogali SC), Nick DAHL (O’Connor Knights), Xabier DAVIES (Tuggeranong United), Dylan DEEP-JONES (Monaro Panthers), Bailey DICKENSON (Gungahlin United), Jacob DONADEL (Yoogali SC), Jayce DOTSON (Yoogali SC), Jack ELLWOOD (Monaro Panthers), FERNANDO Jorquera (Monaro Panthers), Marco GAYER (Monaro Panthers), Matt GRBESA (Canberra Croatia), Hayden HOLLINGER (Yoogali SC), Romeo JAMBREK (Tuggeranong United), Mitchell JERVIS-HAMILTON (Monaro Panthers), Ryan KEIR (Canberra Croatia), Ayumu KIMURA (Gungahlin United), Niko KRESIC (O’Connor Knights), Steven KRESKAS (Queanbeyan City), Luca MACOR (Monaro Panthers), Zac MCLAREN (Monaro Panthers), Harry MARTIN (O’Connor Knights), Archie MCGREGOR (Tigers FC), Max MELLICK (Monaro Panthers), Steve NEALON (Tuggeranong United), Ibrahim OBEID (O’Connor Knights), Deacon PALOMBI (Gungahlin United), Alessandro PENA (Tuggeranong United), Nicholas PRATEZINA (Canberra Croatia), Joe PREECE (Yoogali SC), Charlie RAE (Queanbeyan City), Sam ROESTBAKKEN (Monaro Panthers),Luke SAKAMOTO (Tuggeranong United), Tim SANTOS (Tuggeranong United), Vincent SANCHEZ (O’Connor Knights), Cassidy SCHLESINGER (Tuggeranong United), Michael SOUTHAM (Tigers FC), Daniel SUBASIC (Canberra Croatia), Giuseppe TINE (Monaro Panthers), Kristian TOKIC (Queanbeyan City), Archie VARNES (Tuggeranong United), Sam WALKER (Tuggeranong United)
