Canberra Croatia defender Amy McLachlan jockeys Canberra Olympic's Maddy Whittall. Photo: Soccer Snaps By Sal

The third women’s Charity Shield was held at Deakin Stadium on the weekend. This year’s edition pitted 2022 Federation Cup winners Canberra Olympic against 2022 Premiers Canberra Croatia.

CCFC’s Bella Barac takes on Olympic’s Kat Peric. Photo: Soccer Snaps By Sal

The chosen charity to receive donations is Sock it to Sarcoma. Sarcomas are a group of rare aggressive bone and soft tissue cancers that strike children and young people for no apparent reason.

Full video from Bar TV Sports: Canberra Croatia FC vs Canberra Olympic – Charity Shield

The M&M Podcast pre-season interviews with Canberra Olympic coach Nicole Begg and Canberra Croatia coach Zoran Glavinic are highly recommended for further details on the two squads.

Olympic’s Nicole Jalocha is watchful under pressure from Dianne Wilson. Photo: Soccer Snaps By Sal

Canberra Croatia

  • Grace Gill (retired), Krista Hagen (retired), Nat Vasta & Maddie Sawkins (not returning this season).
  • Absences for this game include Brittany Palombi (recovering from appendicitis), Bec Kiting and Jennie Bissett, while Alice Churchill’s recovery is ongoing.
  • Tatum Mazis joins from the Blue Devils.
  • Defender Brandy Nicholson arrives from Wagga City Wanderers.
  • Attacker Charli Mitchell arrives from Eden.
  • Defender Zoe Sobczak arrives from Bundaberg.

Canberra Olympic

  • Ash Sykes is not returning this season, nor are Sarah Johnston (Melbourne) and Liv Fogarty (AFLW).
  • Tianah Miro is still recovering from injury.
  • Absences for this game include Michaela Thornton (overseas futsal tournament), Elke Aitolu and Janet King.
  • Maddy Whittall has come back to football after taking out the 2017 NPLW Golden Boot and playing for Canberra United.
Zoe Sobczak impressed at left back for Canberra Croatia. Photo: Soccer Snaps By Sal

After a settling-in first quarter hour, Arusha Chew’s drive from outside the Canberra Croatia box found the back of the net, but the goal was disallowed due to a deflection from the offside Anna Vandenbroucke.

An injury to Olympic’s Jaz Zabel saw Brittany Fiorese enter the game within 25 minutes, forcing Maddy Whittall into midfield. Less than five minutes later, Nicole Jalocha’s through ball found Whittall advancing on the Canberra Croatia goal, but her shot couldn’t elude keeper Madeleine Angel.

Tatum Mazis only has eyes for the ball. Photo: Soccer Snaps By Sal

It wasn’t all one-way traffic for the team in blue, however. Zoe Sobczak impressed early with an easy running style, a willingness to get forward and a desire to participate in attacking moves. A fierce volley on the half-hour by CCFC striker Charli Mitchell was tipped onto the crossbar by Bella Williams. The same crossbar then felt the brunt of Jamie Berkeley’s dead ball strike just before halftime.

The deadlock was broken three minutes into the second half after Mitchell sent an innocuous-looking ball from the by-line into the Olympic six yard box. The awkward bounce eluded Williams, who was perhaps distracted by Sienna Birnie drifting in front of her. Either way, Mitchell’s cross hit the net and that would be the only goal of the game.

Olympic right-back Vanessa Ryan was substituted just before the hour as Canberra Croatia grew in confidence and maintained their pressing game. Drifting across the field with the ball, Berkeley again found the woodwork from outside the area, this time hitting the right post. Captain Rhiannon Fensom then had a point blank header impressively saved by Williams with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Aware that they needed to turn the game around as the final whistle approached, Olympic stepped up their attacking game. Chew’s left foot back post volley from a corner narrowly missed with 15 minutes to go, and when Whittall was later brought down an inch outside the CCFC area, Ali Cook and her deadly left foot stepped up. Her bullet of a strike careened straight into the arms of Angel, and the home side was able to close out the game. 

Photo: Soccer Snaps By Sal

On this showing, Canberra Croatia coach Zoran Glavinic will perhaps be the happier of the two coaches. New arrivals Mitchell and Sobczak caught the eye and the team looked a little sharper than their opponents.

The teams play each other two more times in the near future: Round 1 of the NPL campaign and the first round of the Federation Cup.

Charli Mitchell could be in for a big season with Canberra Croatia. Photo: Soccer Snaps By Sal

Canberra Croatia FC 1 (Mitchell 48′)
Canberra Olympic 0

Thanks to Soccer Snaps By Sal for the photos, follow him on Facebook and Instagram!

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