The National Premier League begins the home stretch in Round 13 with four matches, each having a bearing on what is turning into s sensational title race, whilst the battle to avoid relegation become even more intense.
Midweek football will get the round up and running as Tuggeranong United head to Deakin Stadium to tackle Canberra Croatia, a venue that they have not had much joy at down the years in the NPL.
Tuggeranong haven’t won a match against Canberra Croatia in six attempts but have scored on each of their last three visits to Deakin Stadium, providing stubborn opposition whenever they lock horns.
Earlier this year, Tuggeranong were in the game against Croatia for 65 minutes, the match neatly poised at 1-1 before a late surge from Croatia saw them turn on the style and run away with the match. Kaz Patafta was instrumental in the end result, the visitors winning in the end by 6-1.
Tigers FC, billing for the top spot, make the visit to West Canberra Wanderers aiming for a repeat of the 7-1 hammering that they handed to the Wanderers at the Australian Institute of Sport to continue their run towards potential silverware.
The Tigers have been scoring plenty of goals but were looking to shore up a leaky defence that had seen them drop some points from winning positions, a tendency that saw them lose a lead at top of the pile. The loss of leading scorer Josh Gulevski will hurt, and replacing him will be paramount.
Wanderers season has seen them put in a couple of excellent performances at home, albeit for no reward, as Gungahlin United and Canberra Croatia narrowly emerged with the points at the end of a tough battle at Wanderers Park. More of the same will be required.
The O’Connor derby is the highlight of Saturday afternoon as the O’Connor Knights meet Canberra Olympic in the self-proclaimed BBQ derby.
The brace of games that were played as Knights home matches last season saw O’Connor emerge victorious 6-2 in the season opener, whilst Olympic overturned the result in the re-match with a narrow 1-0 win.
Knights have managed to score seven goals against Olympic in four NPL matches but haven’t netted against them in over 260 minutes of football, whilst earlier in this campaign goals from Luca Florez and Lasse Olrik edged Olympic to a 2-0 victory.
The pride of O’Connor is on the line in this one, plus vital points in the chase for the league championship crown.
Sunday afternoon will see a huge match-up at the Australian Institute of Sport as Gungahlin United and Monaro Panthers meet, the latter desperate to take the points and close the gap on the Gunners as they both strive for the top four.
Of the last seven NPL matches played between these two clubs, four of them have ended in draws, the last two stalemates both ending 2-2 however with both teams needing a victory a match that ends with honours even is probably not going to be helpful to either Ian Worthington or Chris Caggiano.
The 3-2 win over the Gunners at the Riverside earlier this season was only the second time that the Panthers have beaten Gungahlin in an NPL contest which might suggest Gunners will be slight favourites.
What is guaranteed is action. Meetings between the Panthers and Gunners always throw up a raft of talking points and this Round 13 match will add to history.
FIXTURES
ROUND 13
Wednesday 5 July
Canberra Croatia v Tuggeranong United (Deakin Stadium, 19:30)
Saturday 8 July
West Canberra Wanderers v Tigers FC (Melrose Synthetic, 14:00)
O’Connor Knights v Canberra Olympic (O’Connor Enclosed, 15:00)
Sunday 9 July
Gungahlin United v Monaro Panthers (AIS, 15:00)