A goal from Domenic Giampaolo put Canberra FC back in the title race as they edged out rivals Canberra Olympic.
Wednesday 8th June 2016
CU Academy 3 (Daniel Fabrizio 16’, 88’, Joshua Gulevski 41’) FFA COE 7 (Rahmat Akbari 13’, 29’, 64’, Jacob Italiano 21’, Mirza Muratovic 77’, Bryce Bafford 86’, John Roberts 87’)
(AIS Synthetic)
A hat-trick from winger Rahmat Akbari helped the FFA COE to a 7-3 victory over the CU Academy in an end-to-end encounter at the AIS Synthetic pitch on the first ever Wednesday afternoon PS4 NPL match played in Canberra. Akbari was the main difference between the teams for 65 minutes, showing his skill and pace to great affect and causing numerous problems to a CU Academy defence that, on more than one occasion, was their own worst enemy.
Akbari it was that opened the scoring in the match as he received a pass goal side of the Academy defence and clipped a perfect finish cross Jakeb Wiseman in goal and into the far corner. But it was an advantage that was short-lived. Joshua Gulevski created the equaliser, swinging over a delightful cross that FFA COE custodian Matthew Sutton couldn’t gather cleanly, allowing Daniel Fabrizio to stab in from close range.
Saturday 11th June
FFA COE 4 (Jacob Italiano 17’, Marc Tokich 40’, Bryce Bafford 53’, Rahmat Akbari 90’) Woden-Weston FC 0
(AIS)
The FFA COE cruised to a 4-0 win over Woden-Weston FC to make it two wins in a week following their impressive showing in defeating CU Academy on Wednesday. The Wanderers were never really in the game after conceding in the first twenty minutes as the home side dominated the possession and took the game to their opponents who were left to live off sporadic breakaways.
After a brisk opening in which Kai Trewin volleyed over after a neat lay-off by John Roberts, and Rahmat Akbari saw a shot deflected wide, again after impressive build-up play from Roberts, the hosts went ahead. Unsurprisingly, Roberts was heavily involved in the creation, beating his man and sliding the ball across the area for Jacob Italiano to clinically side-foot past Josh Wade.
Belconnen United 4 (Taylor Beaton 15’, Sam Smith 37’, Jason Ugrinic 40’, Toby Richter 90+1’) Monaro Panthers 0
(McKellar Park)
Belconnen United kept in touch with the league leaders after goals from Taylor Beaton, Sam Smith, Jason Ugrinic and Toby Richter saw the Blue Devils to a 4-0 win over Monaro Panthers at McKellar Park. The home team was never really in any danger of succumbing to the Panthers despite the best efforts of a team that was well structured but lacked that subtlety and creativity to find a way through in the attacking third.
The match began at a subdued pace with Monaro content to sit back and allow Belconnen plenty of possession in their own half with the result that the Blue Devils were able to dictate the tempo of the encounter. Perhaps fatigued, as much mentally as physically from their midweek Westfield FFA Cup exit, it took the home side a good ten minutes or so to put together any real attack of note.
Sunday 12th June
CU Academy 2 (Niko Ujdur 13’, Joshua Gulevski 59’) Tuggeranong United 3 (Andrew Slavich 16’, Tim Anderson 49’, Nikolaos Kalfas 63’)
(Hawker Football Centre)
By Ahmed Jbeili
Goals from Andrew Slavich, Tim Anderson and Nikoloas Kalfas secured Tuggeranong United FC the three points in their 3-2 victory against a valiant CU Academy side at Hawker Football Centre on Sunday.
Both sides were coming into the match looking to reignite their season. Tuggeranong who still have a chance to make the PS4 NPL finals mathematically, needed three points desperately. As for the home side, Academy were needing to improve on their recent setbacks and push to get their third win of the season.
The first half didn’t take long to get started, both sides looking to attack early on in the match. Tuggeranong didn’t waste any time and got the first shots of the game in the opening five minutes. Attackers Kalfas and Slavich both almost scored from outside of the box, only for Academy Goalkeeper Sam Brown to make the crucial saves on both occasions.
Canberra Olympic 0 Canberra FC 1 (Domenic Giampaolo 37’)
(O’Connor Enclosed)
By William Bremner
Traditional PS4 NPL giants Canberra Olympic and Canberra FC renewed battle on a chilly afternoon at O’Connor Enclosed and it was FC that came away with a precious three points.
Domenic Giampaolo proved to be the difference between the two sides as his 37th minute header was ultimately decisive. In truth the home team might be shaking their heads in disbelief that they had not taken the lead before Giampaolo's strike.
Phillipe Bernabo-Madrid had the first real chance of the game after Michael Reeve had delivered a tempting low near post cross that the striker turned onto a post. Moments later he was at it again bursting past defenders and sending a low scudding shot wide of the left hand post. He then did have the ball in the net but saw his strike correctly ruled out for offside.
Tigers FC 1 (Stephen Domenici 56’ (pen)) Gungahlin United 1 (Frano Blazevic 49’)
(Nijong Oval)
A penalty from Golden Boot leader Stephen Domenici earned Tigers FC a point against Gungahlin United to keep them top of the PS4 NPL ladder after a frustrating afternoon at Nijong Oval. Domenici kept his calm from the spot after defender Nahuel Guerrero was adjudged to have been impeded in the area, prompting howls of protest from the Gunners camp who, up until that point, had been on their way to an unlikely three points.
Earlier in the match anything other than a maximum return for the Tigers appeared improbable, as the league leaders dominated proceedings in the opening forty-five minutes to such an extent that their goalkeeper, Jakob Cole, was a virtual spectator at the clubhouse end of the ground. Cole watched on though as his team was thwarted at every turn by a resolute Gungahlin defence.
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