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Gungahlin United 2 (Daniel Barac 24’, Dustin Wells 51’ (pen))
Belconnen United kicked off the PS4 NPL season with a 4-2 win over Gungahlin United at McKellar Park in a match that changed on the first half dismissal of Gungahlin midfielder Liam Walsh. Walsh was shown a straight red card in the 28th minute for an altercation with Blue Devils midfielder Jason Ugrinic which left referee Matt Cropper with no option but to brandish red. Up until that moment Gungahlin had grown into the match and taken a deserved lead with a splendid goal to open proceedings. Jeremy Habtemariam had enjoyed a sparkling opening half-hour and it was his run and cross that paved the way for Daniel Barac to thump a bullet header past Adam Perakovic in the Belconnen goal. But then came Walsh’s dismissal and a ruthless five minute spell in which Belconnen netted three times to virtually take the match away from their opponents. It was Ugrinic who drew the sides level ten minutes after the send-off, collecting a square pass from Danai Gapare, who had been released into the channel by a glorious ball from Matt Grbesa, and side-stepping a challenge to drill low into the corner. Three minutes later the hosts took the lead. Young Gungahlin stopper Rashid Farid could only punch a corner to the edge of the area where Jack Blackley controlled on his chest before unleashing a strike into the net from 12 yards. And the turn-around was complete moments later as Belconnen scored another thrilling goal. A slick, fast-paced break culminated in Jordan Tsekenis arriving unmarked on the back post to sweep home. Gungahlin needed to regroup and the interval and they came out firing as Habtemariam was upended in the area. Dustin Wells crashed the spot-kick into the roof of the net to give the visitors the belief they needed and they almost drew level in the 63rd minute. A superb move saw Nathan Tidmarsh flick a pass to Josh Gaspari who hammered a shot across goal only to see the ball rebound off the inside of the post and somehow stay out. Having survived that scare Belconnen secured the points when some quick thinking at a free-kick from Goran Mukevski sent substitute Aisosa Ihegie clear down the right. The replacement skinned Jack Green and belted his shot past Farid at his near post to seal the points on opening night.
Canberra FC 5 (Thomas Milicevic 9’, Robbie Deeley 13’, Domenic Giampaolo 33’, Ian Graham 42’, James Field 85’)
Monaro Panthers 1 (Daniel Linstead 38’)
It may not have been vintage Canberra FC but there was a lot to like as the former Champions geared up for a return to glory with what eventually amounted to a routine 5-1 victory over Monaro Panthers at Deakin Stadium on Sunday afternoon. But the score-line may have glossed over a couple of areas of concern for the FC management who would have watched on nervously as the Panthers threatened a flying start, coming out of the blocks impressively and causing a number of issues in the first twenty minutes to the reds defence. However, a ruthless display in front of goal made sure that there would be no opening day upset as FC struck four goals from as many chances in the opening half to virtually secure the points before the interval. Thomas Milicevic opened the scoring in the 9th minute, volleying home on the back post after a delicious cross from Michael Mensah and when new signing Robbie Deeley fired in a deflected second after excellent approach work from Domenic Giampaolo, the Panthers were on the back foot. Giampaolo was next on the score-sheet himself, collecting a pin-point through ball, threaded through the eye of a needle by Aiden Brunskill, and sliding a composed finish past Jack Pettit in the Panthers goal. The visitors did give themselves a glimmer of hope when Daniel Linstead made the most of Jakob Cole’s fumble of a corner to head in from close range, but a fourth FC goal, calmly converted by Ian Graham two minutes from the interval doused any hopes of a comeback. The second half was a more prosaic affair with chances being passed up by both teams and FC in the ascendancy before the crowd was treated to the goal of the game with time running out. Awarded a free-kick thirty metres out and on the angle James Field unleashed a rocket of a shot that dipped and swerved a la Cristiano Ronaldo and flashed over the head of the bemused Pettit to seal the three points and give Canberra FC a solid start to the campaign.
Tuggeranong United 1 (Ethan Munster 28’)
Canberra Olympic 6 (Philippe Bernabo-Madrid 7’, 53’ (pen), 75’ (pen), Robbie Cattanach 44’, 86’, 90’)
Canberra Olympic made sure that there’s was the name at the top of the fledgling PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues: Capital Football competition with a thoroughly deserved 6-1 victory over Tuggeranong United at Kambah 2. With a number of new faces to incorporate into the team in 2015, it would have been pleasing for Olympic Head Coach Frank Cachia the manner in which his team began the contest as they took the match to the hosts and went in front early on. Philippe Bernabo-Madrid endured a torrid season at Canberra FC last term but seems to have rediscovered his zest for the game and he gave Olympic the perfect start to the campaign with a seventh minute opener. To their credit Tuggeranong fought back well and began to dictate the pace of the game themselves and drew level in the 28th minute with a finely worked goal finished off by Ethan Munster. A period of equality ensured before Olympic struck at a crucial time. With seconds remaining before the break Robbie Cattanach chose a decisive moment to open his Olympic account with a looping header at the near post that deceived Tuggeranong stopper Rowan Forbes-Shepherd. Leading 2-1 the momentum was with Olympic and they made it count eight minute after the break going further ahead from the penalty spot. Adam Rogic caused havoc in the Tuggeranong defence and was upended allowing Bernabo-Madrid to confidently score from the spot. The striker would go onto complete a first day hat-trick with fifteen minutes to play as he blasted home a second penalty after Tim Bobolas had been impeded in the area. United kept battling and the defensive pair of Jonathan Reis and Sam Shadbolt were resolute at the back with Sean Kiddey and Cameron Doherty offering a speedy outlet down the flanks from full-back. But Olympic has plenty of class in their team and in Cattanach possess a genuine match-winner. Presented with another opening four minutes from time the dual ACT Player of the Year added his second of the match and, when he completed his hat-trick in stoppage time, put Olympic top of the table on goal difference – a satisfactory end to the afternoon for the men in blue.
Tigers FC 2 (Alex Oloriegbe 61’, Lucas Montana 91’ (pen))
Woden-Weston FC 1 (Pepe Varga 29’)
A stoppage time penalty coolly converted by debutant Lucas Montana got League Champions Tigers FC out of jail earning them a 2-1 opening day win over Woden-Weston FC at Nijong Oval. Montana took the responsibility with virtually the last kick of the match to steal the points after Alex Oloriegbe was adjudged to have been brought down in the area by the Woden-Weston covering defence. It was a cruel blow for the visiting team who had more than matched their hosts and looked well on the way to securing at least a point from one of the competitions more daunting away trips. With both teams fielding a host of new faces in their respective line-ups, it was no real surprise that the match took a while to find its feet and, when it did, it was the Woden-Weston outfit that took the lead. Pepe Varga was the man to get the honour of scoring the amalgamated team’s first top flight goal, taking his chance with aplomb, much to the delight of the traveling Woden-Weston support. It was a lead that Miro Trninic’s team deserved and one which they held onto until just past the hour-mark. Oloriegbe has been brought back to the Tigers to replace the goals of the departed Stephen Domenici and he went someway to repaying that faith by drawing the Tigers level in the 61st minute. The match settled into a rhythm after that and Woden-Weston looked destined to earn a share of the spoils, or even nick a late winner, when Tigers captain Dejan Santrac was sent off for a miss-timed challenge with five minutes to play. It was the home team who profited though and when Oloriegbe went to ground close to the final whistle, Montana made sure the champions started the season with victory.
Round 2 Fixtures
Canberra FC v Belconnen United
Gungahlin United v Canberra Olympic
Tuggeranong United v FFA CEO
Monaro Panthers v Tigers FC