It has been a complicated week for Canberra Croatia. After the unexpected draw at Greenway Enclosed, the reigning champions were defeated at home by Belconnen United on Sunday, their first loss in over 450 days confirmed via a Sofia Palywoda header.
The Blue Devils used high press and pacey, direct attacks from the kick-off to hurt Zoran Glavinic’s team and it paid off rapidly, with Talia Backhouse’s 15th goal of the season scored after only five minutes. Happy to drop a bit lower, Belconnen United left most of the ball to their competition leaders, while trying to surprise them in counter-attack.
Back from the break, Croatia offered better offensive intent, and were rewarded on a corner, with Krista Hagen celebrating her team’s 100th goal of the season by planting her header out of Jayla Murphy’s reach.
The momentum shifted for a short time, until the Blue Devils got their composure back and started pushing forward again. After a couple of half chance, a corner kick from Olivia Bomford found Palywoda at the near post, for the midfielder the smash a header in the back of the net.
Canberra Olympic started their encounter a few hours earlier, at O’Connor against West Canberra Wanderers. Nicole Begg’s team bounced back nicely from last week’s loss in Deakin, with 2-0 win over Rey Castro’s team.
The first half was a cagey affair, without any real threat on either side despite Olympic’s domination. Victoria Jamieson’s teammates finally broke the deadlock in the second half, thanks to none other than Ashleigh Sykes.
Five minutes after the break, the striker just had to tap the ball in after an offering from Michaela Thornton. Ally Hinson delayed a larger defeat several times in the second act, until Sykes, again, ended a run on the right wing by a shot so powerful it went through the net!
Canberra Olympic puts pressure on the top of the table with that win and could find themselves two points behind Canberra Croatia if they can beat Tuggeranong on Thursday. The Wanderers on the other hand are only three points clear of the fifth place and cannot afford to drop anymore points in their last three games.
Gungahlin United is the team sitting in that fifth spot and they closed the gap to fourth on Sunday with an emphatic win against Tuggeranong United. Up 5-0 at half time, the Gunners added one and conceded another in the second part of the game.
Michelle Heyman was the star of the afternoon, with a hat-trick full of pace and skills. Her first (2’) and second goals (30’) at Kambah were similar, a run from the right that ended with a glancing left footed shot.
Between these two goals, captain Maddie Perceval scored maybe the most beautiful goal of her career, a run from the halfway line concluded by a missile in the top right corner. Heyman also allowed for an assist, a gift to Cassia McGlashan who just had to push it in the empty net.
Sharon Chao scored the fifth goal of the first half with four minutes left, another strong effort from just outside the box. Alison Seeney, forgotten in the box, reduced the score for the home team just after the hour mark, before Heyman completed her hat trick six minutes later.
Wagga City Wanderers faced Canberra United Academy at Gissing Oval and despite starting the game the right way was not able to get a result at home, the visitors winning 1-3.
Scotland-bound Megan Castle was indeed the first to strike, getting on the receiving end of a corner kick after 14 minutes. The answer did not take long and came in style, with Alissa Barbour’s attempt from outside the box perfectly dipping under the crossbar.
The Academy kept pushing and Sofia Christopherson put her team in front just after the half hour mark, after dribbling around Ebony Walker before stroking into the unguarded goal. Both teams went at it to score the fourth goal, but 15 minutes before the final whistle, another screamer from distance, courtesy of Bessie Riethmuller, sealed the deal for the Academy.
RESULTS
ROUND 19
Sunday 28 August
Canberra Croatia 1 (Hagen 62’) Belconnen United 2 (Backhouse 5’, Palywoda 80’)
Canberra Olympic 2 (Sykes 49’, 80’) West Canberra Wanderers 0
Tuggeranong United 1 (Seeney 65’) Gungahlin United 6 (Heyman 2’, 30’, 71’, Perceval 15’, McGlashan 26’, Chao 41’)
Wagga City Wanderers 1 (Castle 14’) Canberra United Academy 3 (Barbour 17’, Christopherson 32’, Riethmuller 75’)
TABLE
|
|
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
GD |
PTS |
|
1 |
Canberra Croatia |
19 |
15 |
3 |
1 |
+72 |
48 |
|
2 |
Canberra Olympic |
18 |
13 |
4 |
1 |
+56 |
43 |
|
3 |
Belconnen United |
19 |
13 |
1 |
5 |
+41 |
40 |
|
4 |
West Canberra Wanderers |
18 |
8 |
3 |
7 |
-13 |
27 |
|
5 |
Gungahlin United |
19 |
7 |
3 |
9 |
-7 |
24 |
|
6 |
Canberra United Academy |
19 |
5 |
2 |
12 |
-16 |
17 |
|
7 |
Tuggeranong United |
18 |
2 |
3 |
13 |
-45 |
9 |
|
8 |
Wagga City Wanderers |
18 |
1 |
1 |
16 |
-86 |
4 |
Words: Jeremy Magan