The newly crowned champions of Canberra’s Westfield FFA Cup Qualifying Tournament, Gungahlin United, host FFA COE to kick-off proceedings in a round of PlayStation 4® NPL action that sees three great match ups.
Sunday 28th June
Gungahlin United FC vs FFA Centre of Excellence
(Gungahlin Enclosed, 3pm)
Gungahlin United took the honours on Saturday with a gutsy victory over Belconnen United that required 120 minutes to separate the two teams.
A lone Daniel Barac goal in the 103rd minute was enough to see them enter the final 32 of the national competition. The win will do much for the competition new comers, who will now focus on making more of an impact in the PS4 NPL, starting with FFA COE on Sunday.
FFA COE had a scare in Round 11 against Tuggeranong United, being forced to come from behind to take an unconvincing 5-3 win. They will need to improve to emulate their Round 3 victory in the corresponding fixture. This should be a good one with lots of exciting football.
Tuggeranong United FC vs Woden-Weston FC
(Kambah 2-1, 3pm)
A big game for both teams and anything could happen in the Southside Derby at Kambah on Sunday as Tuggeranong United welcome Woden-Weston FC.
Both teams have had disappointing seasons, with five points between them on the ladder. If Tuggers are to get some points this season, this is one of their best opportunities. They showed signs of good form with Zac Munster bagging a double and the team pushing FFA COE to the end in a 5-3 loss last week.
Woden-Weston are coming off a timely break, with the previous two weeks seeing the joint venture play their two worst games of the season, conceding a total of nine goals and scoring zero. So far this year, these teams have met twice and both times there has been a clearly better team.
Woden-Weston FC won 4-0 in Round 3 of the PS4 NPL only for Tuggers to return the favour 5-2 in the Westfield FFA Cup Qualifiers ten days later. Anything could happen in this one, which makes it impossible to pick a winner.
Canberra Olympic vs Belconnen United FC
(O’Connor Enclosed, 3pm)
Usually the crowd is in for a treat whenever these two sides meet. Always two of the best technical teams in the competition, Canberra Olympic and Belconnen United have put on some great matches in the past, including Round 3’s match that went Belconnen’s way, 3-2.
In that game, five yellow cards were shown in the opening eight minutes and it set the tone for an entertaining match. Belconnen are coming off a heart-breaking loss in the Westfield FFA Cup Qualifying Final, meaning Dean Ugrinic will have a task to get his team in the right headspace for the game.
Olympic will be fresh after a break, with their Round 11 fixture postponed for the Cup tie. To add to the intrigue, ex-Blue Devils striker Jordan Tsekenis will take the field against his former team mates after a mid-season transfer.
Expect the Blue Devils centre-halves Jack Blackley and Matt Grbesa to make their presence known early in what is expected to be a cracker.