Canberra Croatia, Canberra Olympic and Belconnen United leads the way with 16 points each after Round 7 of the WNPL, with the Blue Devils still in the number one spot thanks to a better goal difference.
Belconnen United were stunned at ANU South Oval as ANU WFC came from two-goals behind to earn a point in a rollicking 2-2 draw. Things had started well for the visitors, taking the lead via free kick after a quarter of an hour expertly converted from 35 metres by Isabella Hindmarsh.
The combination of power and the right trajectory, with the sun blinding Claire Joseph, meant the home keeper could only touched the ball that dipped in the back of net. Despite losing Reilly Yuen minutes later due to an injury, the visitors kept pushing.
They were rewarded seven minutes before the break with Pearl Tein, back on the field, hitting one from outside the box that bounced under Joseph, but it was chances missed that cost the visitors.
Just before the hour mark, a superb turn and pass from Sofia Chaverra found Sheridan McElligott in the box, the winger only taking one touch to put the ball out of reach of Tara Howarth.
The young keeper had to go get the ball in her net once more with 12 minutes to go in the game. A fast counterattack ended with Alexandra Serras finding Roxie Swart, subbed in ten-minutes prior, in the box. ANU’s main threat just had enough time to hit the ball with her left foot before Howarth could pounce to draw the team’s level.
Canberra United Academy stay in the race for the top four after a solid 2-0 win over Tuggeranong United at Hawker on Sunday. Matthew Moore’s protégées scored a goal each side of the break to get their third win of the season.
Academy scored their first goal from the spot kick, after a clumsy challenge by Sarah Daisley offered Alyssa Di Campli the opportunity to score her second penalty of the season, a chance she took expertly.
Down a goal at the break, Tuggeranong almost conceded a second one two minutes into the second act. A free kick played short by Latisha Babic found Alexandra Nealand on the left wing. The full back crossed at the near post, and lucky to see Zoe Terry deflecting it, saw her ball slowly rolling in the opposite side netting.
Tuggeranong on their end had difficulties getting the ball out of their half at times. A free kick by Rainey Niles that rattled the crossbar was the closest the visitors got from scoring on Sunday, not enough to avoid Paulo Romero’s team’s sixth defeat of the season.
West Canberra Wanderers were unable to score their first point on Sunday at Wanderers Park, where they conceded a heavy 5-1 defeat to Canberra Croatia.
The reigning Premiers started the game on the front foot, with their talisman Brittany Palombi hitting the post two minutes in. Ten minutes later, it was already the Deakin side’s fourth corner kick that brought the first goal of the game. Palombi swerved in her attempt directly into Samantha Briggs’ net, a goal confirmed by the assistant referee.
Inches from an immediate response, the Wanderers try to play at high intensity to put their visitor off balance but were unfortunately punished twice in two minutes by Canberra Croatia’s duo of the month.
Tatum Mazis was found in the box just after the half hour to score from close range, before Charli Mitchell imitated her from the edge of the box, with enough power to prevent Briggs from stopping her attempt.
Up 3-0 at half time, Zoran Glavinic’s team had all intention to keep going after the break. 20 minutes in, a swift counterattack saw Sienna Birnie smartly launching Mazis behind the defence. The skilful forward faced Briggs alone and did not hesitate to net from up close her fourth goal in 7 days.
For the second week in a row, the consolation for West Canberra came from their captain Sarah Whitfield, this time heading a high corner kick in the back of Maddy Angel’s net. The action was not over at Wanderers Park however, and in stoppage time, Mazis added to her assist tally by offering substitute Amy Bongiorno her first goal of the season.
The game of the round saw Gungahlin United and Canberra Olympic drawing at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval, 1-1. The first goal came seven minutes before half time. A free kick on the right side, 25 meters away from Janet King, was wisely taken by Ginger Oliver. The forward went for the top right corner, where the sun would have the most impact on Janet King, and her precise delivery prevent the Olympic keeper from parrying away the set piece.
The Gunners, from there on, defended their goal with courage and bravado, often throwing their bodies in front of Olympic forwards’ attempt at equalizing. They would stay strong until halfway through the second half.
A corner kick, and a follow through cross by Vanessa Ryan found Katrina Peric at the far post. The defender’s shot, parried by Emily Kelly, bounced on Ayla Robertson. The centre back thought she had managed to acrobatically tackle the ball away from her own goals, until the assistant referee pointed out that the ball had indeed passed the line.
Olympic tried to take advantage of the momentum, and more drama unfolded when a penalty was given ten minutes later. Michaela Thornton’s first attempt was saved by Kelly, but the midfielder scored on the rebound, only for the assistant referee to ask for the penalty to be taken again: the keeper was off her line. Unfortunately for Olympic, Thornton skyed the second attempt.
RESULTS
ROUND 7
Sunday 21 May
West Canberra Wanderers 1 (Whitfield 85’) Canberra Croatia 5 (Palombi 14’, Mazis 32’, 65’, Mitchell 34’, Bongiorno 90+2’)
ANU WFC 2 (McElligott 58’, Swart 79’) Belconnen United 2 (Hindmarsh 18’, Tein 39’)
Canberra United Academy 2 (Di-Campli 23’ (p), Nealand 59’) Tuggeranong United 0
Gungahlin United 1 (Oliver 39’) Canberra Olympic 1 (Peric 68’)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Belconnen United | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 5 | +17 | 16 |
| 2 | Canberra Croatia | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 7 | +14 | 16 |
| 3 | Canberra Olympic | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | +14 | 16 |
| 4 | Gungahlin United | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 10 | +2 | 11 |
| 5 | Canberra United Academy | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 9 |
| 6 | ANU WFC | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 14 | -8 | 4 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 23 | -18 | 3 |
| 8 | West Canberra Wanderers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 20 | -17 | 0 |
TOP SCORERS
7 Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia), Bessie RIETHMULLER (Belconnen United)
6 Charli MITCHELL (Canberra Croatia)
5 Kiera BOBBIN (Belconnen United), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Olympic)
4 Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Croatia)
3 Tia BURRIDGE (Canberra Olympic), Olivia GURNEY (Canberra Olympic), Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Roxie SWART (ANU WFC), Darby WHITELY (Gungahlin United)
2 Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Hattie CRAM (Belconnen United), Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Canberra United Academy), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Alexandra NEALAND (Canberra United Academy), Rainey NILES (Tuggeranong United), Nikita PERRY (West Canberra Wanderers), Erika PENNYFIELD (Gungahlin United), Marija RATHOUSKI (Belconnen United), Sarah WHITFIELD (West Canberra Wanderers),
1 Tehya ASPLAND (Canberra Olympic), Latisha BABIC (Canberra United Academy), Talia BACKHOUSE (Belconnen United), Amy BONGIORNO (Canberra Croatia), Ella-Rose BROWN (Gungahlin United), Sharon CHAO (Gungahlin United), Tamara COCHRANE (Canberra United Academy), Alexandra COOK (Canberra Olympic), Rachael CORBETT (Gungahlin United), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Rhiannon FENSOM (Canberra Croatia), Charli GREGSON (Tuggeranong United), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Sarah MATTHEWS (Tuggeranong United), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United), Madeleine STEINACKER (Belconnen United), Pearl TEIN (Belconnen United), Madelyn WHITTALL (Canberra Olympic), Elisha WILD (Canberra United Academy), Juliet WILLIAMS (ANU WFC), Zoe WILLIAMS (Tuggeranong United), Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United), Jasmine ZABEL (Canberra Olympic)
REVIEW: Jeremy Magan
