The Canberra Classico will take on even more meaning when the two teams that duked it out in the Australia Cup Final at Deakin Stadium in early June, Canberra Olympic and Canberra Croatia meet again, this time at O’Connor Enclosed, in Round 14 of the National Premier League with both teams desperate to take home the maximum return.
Croatia had the joy of claiming the silverware in the cup showdown, but it was Olympic who took the points in the League meeting at the same Deakin venue, however Olympic have not won a home match in the NPL against Canberra Croatia since a 1-0 Round 9 victory way back in 2014 when Robbie Deeley scored a 67th minute winner.
Since the Cup Final, Olympic have been in a poor run of form, and there is nothing like the visit of their old rivals to try and reestablish their credentials as, not only finals hopefuls, but genuine title contenders.
In the red corner, Croatia have started to build some momentum, a team that thrives when they have their backs to the wall and usually find a way to make things happen. The looming Australia Cup Round of 32 challenge against Mount Druitt Town Rangers will no doubt be in the backs of their minds, and that is where it needs to stay ahead of this titanic battle.
Two teams who also have real hopes of walking away with the title of League Champions bestowed upon them will clash at the Australian Institute of Sport as Tigers FC roll out the welcome mat to the O’Connor Knights in the top of the table encounter.
In the previous meeting this term back in Round 7, Tigers made the most of their opportunities, whilst the Knights were wasteful with theirs, ultimately leading to the visiting side emerging with a three-goal lead, potentially a flattering scoreline in what was an evenly-fought fixture.
Josh Gulevski opened the scoring that day, and the absence of their ten-goal hitman who transferred to Hume City, should have proven hard to fill, yet Tigers have potential goal threats across the park and will expect to create openings.
The same can be said for the goal-hungry team lining up across the park from them, the Knights effervescent brand of football has been aided by a steely edge and more defensive nous. They’ll need to be on their toes in this one.
Gungahlin United host West Canberra Wanderers at the same AIS venue 24-hours later with the home side heavily favoured to come out on top against a Wanderers team who are struggling with the pressure of the spectre of relegation that is hovering ominously above them
And yet where there are points available, there is more than just hope. Arguably, the Wanderers would have taken something from the first meeting of the season at Wanderers Park, leading their opponents on the synthetic pitch until Josh Gaspari rescued Gungahlin with a late hat-trick.
West Canberra will need to fully draw on those same levels of resolve if they are to get something from this match, Gungahlin enjoying the immaculate surface and wide-open spaces of the Institute playing field.
Even likely to be without a raft of names due to a spate of injuries that have cruelled the club in recent weeks, Gungahlin will be chasing the three points and their demanding support, will expect nothing less. Wanderers will aim to be the spoke in the wheels.
Kambah 2 will be the venue for the first of a brace of home matches for Tuggeranong United as they welcome Monaro Panthers on Sunday, before the vital arrival of West Canberra Wanderers to the same venue three days later.
It took a goal four minutes into stoppage time at the Riverside Stadium back in late May for the Panthers to shrug off the challenge of Tuggeranong United in their first clash of 2023, Roko Strika coming up trumps late on, so Tuggeranong will feel that they have the ammunition to cause Panthers issues.
Last season’s treble-trophy winning Monaro haven’t had it all their open way this time around, but that confidence and morale-boosting come-from-behind success over Canberra Olympic a fortnight ago, should provide any incentive and boost that the club needs to push on for the top four
It’s a big week for Tuggeranong and they can start it by putting in a performance of not against the Panthers, however their focus might, understandably, be on the midweek action to come.
FIXTURES
ROUND 14
Saturday 15 July
Canberra Olympic v Canberra Croatia (O’Connor Enclosed, 15:00)
Tigers v O’Connor Knights (AIS, 15:00)
Sunday 16 July
Gungahlin United v West Canberra Wanderers (AIS, 15:00)
Tuggeranong United v Monaro Panthers (Kambah 2, 15:00)
Wednesday 19 July
Tuggeranong United v West Canberra Wanderers (Kambah 2, 19:30)