Goal difference remains the only thing splitting the leading two as Canberra FC and Belconnen United drop points.
Saturday 2nd July
FFA COE 3 (Mark Moric 21’, 75’, Louis D’Arrigo 79’) Tigers FC 5 (Jeremias Ibarra 15’, 77’, Stephen Domenici 20’ (pen), 33’, Nicolas Abot 29’)
(AIS)
By Ahmed Jbeili
Tigers FC beat the FFA Centre of Excellence (COE) 5-3 at AIS midday on Saturday, thanks to goals from Stephen Domenici, Jeremias Ibarra and Nicolas Abot.
Tigers FC had to bounce back after consecutive defeats to Canberra Olympic FC in both the Westfield FFA Cup Qualifying Final and their NPL PS4 matchup last weekend.
The Tigers came into the game missing Julian Borgna, Alan Gaston and Daniel Barac through suspension and striker Alex Oloriegbe who recently transferred to Canberra FC. FFA COE weren’t coming into the game crash hot either with their talisman and leading goal scorer John Roberts out due to suspension and the home side had to recover from a last minute defeat to Gungahlin United last weekend.
Monaro Panthers 1 (Sam Roestbakken 8’) Woden-Weston FC 0
(Duncan Oval)
A brilliant strike from young midfielder Sam Roestbakken settled the outcome at the very first PS4 NPL match to be played at Duncan Oval in Googong.
The new facility, located just outside Jerrabomberra, was christened by an exceptional goal, Roestbakken taking aim and driving a low, unerring drive beyond the reach of the exceptional Woden-Weston FC goalkeeper Josh Wade after superb approach work by Mark Shields, the returning striker beating two men before laying off to Roestbakken for the killer blow.
It was a win that the Panthers deserved, just about edging their opponents in general play and creating the better chances. Admittedly, most of the opportunities came when the visiting team were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Bensah Afiabo for dissent midway through the second half.
Belconnen United 0 Canberra Olympic 2 (Philippe Bernabo-Madrid 23’, Jeremy Habtemariam 66’)
(McKellar Park)
By William Bremner
Canberra Olympic celebrated their inclusion in the Westfield FFA cup Round of 32 by beating Belconnen United in their own back yard.
On a freezing evening at McKellar Park, Olympic won this top four clash by two goals to nil. The first half started with Belconnen pressing and Olympic tentatively feeling their way into the game. The Devils moved the ball well down both flanks and Olympic were quick to counter, catching the home team back four high and a little square as both Michael Reeve and Phillipe Bernabo-Madrid broke in behind but were thwarted by scrambling defence.
Sunday 3rd July
CU Academy 3 (Tony Madaffari 35’, Ridwan Hannan 74’ Bul Juach 87’) Gungahlin United 0
(Hawker Football Centre)
By William Bremner
Hawker football Centre was the venue for this lively NPL encounter and the young CU Academy team proved too strong for a lacklustre Gungahlin United running out 3-0 winners.
The game began with CUA keeping possession and moving their opponents around the park with some excellent combinations. Jason Denham in the visitor’s goal was called into action early saving point blank as the home team continued their dominant start. Josh Gulevski, Tony Madaffari and Sam Whithear were all prominent in attack bringing excellent saves out of an overworked Denham in the away goal.
Gungahlin for their part were content to play on the break and were dangerous with long balls in behind the CU Academy defence. On one such occasion Reagan Walsh narrowly missed connecting with a through ball and Sam Brown in the home goal managed to clear with his feet. The deadlock was broken in the 39th minute when Madaffari found himself in the clear and neatly finished past an advancing Denham.
Canberra FC 1 (Aiodan Beatman 89’ (og)) Tuggeranong United 1 (Nikolas Kalfas 86’)
(Deakin Stadium)
By David Jordan
A turbulent last ten minutes at Deakin Stadium cost Canberra FC valuable ground in the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues: Canberra on Sunday as a stubborn Tuggeranong FC side held them to a 1-1 draw.
A goal for each side and a red card to Canberra FC’s Michael Mensah all inside the last stanza saw the game burst into life following an even previous eighty minutes.
FC came out the stronger of the two sides to begin the match, but struggled to break down the deep-sitting defence of Miro Trninic’s side. Tackles flew in from both sides in a physical opening half, and the game’s first caution was handed out after 37 minutes.
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