Are some Capital Football NPLW rounds created more equal than others? Round 4 of the shortened 2020 Capital Football NPLW1 competition certainly had that feeling to it, with key match-ups between finals contenders and those pushing for finals on offer:

Canberra Olympic vs Canberra Croatia FC (Beyond 90’s match of the round)
Belconnen United vs Gungahlin United
Monaro Panthers vs Woden-Weston FC
Canberra United Academy vs Wagga City Wanderers

There was a sense that the results could go some way to shaking out the look of the table with one half of the season already complete at the end of this round.

Match of the Round: Canberra Olympic v Canberra Croatia FC

Canberra FC’s squad has a familiar look about it, retaining the majority of the 2019 squad and perhaps vying with Gungahlin United for the label of ‘most settled squad’ in 2020. Only their backline has somewhat of a new look to it with the additions of Cecilija Matic and Rhiannon Fensom. They had taken maximum points in their two previous 2020 outings but it’s fair to say that the score-lines have not flattered them or the high standards they hold themselves to. They opened their account with two one-goal victories, leaking three goals against Wagga City two weeks ago but with Sharon Chao in sparkling attacking form.

It’s exciting times for Canberra Olympic, who have been adjusting to a welcome injection of vigor, talent, and robustness. A rejuvenated backline has new signing Chloe Rudd alongside a confident centre back pairing in fellow recruit Ella Hemmings and Alexandra Cook, with captain Victoria Jamieson on the other flank. The Olympic attack has taken on a new dimension with the addition of ex-Canberra United stalwarts Nicole Begg and Ashleigh Sykes. Round 1 saw the creation of numerous attacking chances which weren’t capitalised upon, but this was well and truly addressed in the last two rounds with successive five goal hauls.

Coming off the bye, Canberra Croatia coach Nik Brozinic and team have had time to take stock, and their performance today showed us that the time was used wisely in preparation for their toughest 2020 opponent yet. A clever set-up for offensive corner kicks and a plan to starve Olympic’s attacking weapons of ball saw CCFC surprise their opponents, building a three goal lead in the first half. With rain falling heavily in the second half, they were able to weather a resolute Olympic attacking onslaught in the last 20 minutes while scoring two more goals of their own, coming away with a confidence-building 5-3 victory on the road.

The game opened in overcast conditions with occasional drizzle. Both teams were at full strength and displayed a willingness for patience on the ball. Canberra Croatia’s early intensity in pressing the Olympic defence and midfield was superior however, and this bore fruit in allowing much of the half to be played in Olympic territory. With Ashleigh Sykes in Olympic’s forward line and Nicole Begg also in an advanced midfield role, this had the effect of starving Olympic’s attacking outlets of ball. There were occasional exceptions, such as a chance that fell to both inside Canberra Croatia’s box in the tenth minute.

On corner kicks, the away team opted to forgo the height of Grace Gill – one of the tallest players on the field – in the Olympic penalty box. It must have been a surprise to the Olympic defence to see both attacking weapons Gill and Brittany Palombi sitting a good ten metres off the box as corners were swung in, but it quickly became evident why. Both players are blessed with some of the finest shooting abilities from distance in the competition, and positioning themselves at this range allows them to either pick off clearances to shoot from, or to receive corners directly with the same purpose in mind. Hats off to coach Brozinic, as the tactic contributed to CCFC’s outstanding half time lead.

The eight goal feast started in the 25th minute after successive corners to CCFC. This time Krista Hagen played the ball directly to Gill outside the box, whose shot came off the crossbar straight to Sharon Chao for a tap-in.

CCFC defender Rhiannon Fensom was a star performer in this game, slide tackling Emma Guo to deny an opportunity off a Canberra Olympic corner just two minutes later, and acting upon well judged defensive reads all game.

In the 30th minute Gill played an incisive diagonal ball into the Olympic penalty area for Palombi, who was brought down by keeper Angelica Pahina. Palombi stepped up and slotted the penalty for a two goal lead.

In the 33rd minute, CCFC’s Grace Field played Chao in behind the Olympic defence but her shot hit the right-side post. Just three minutes later at the other end, Fensom cut out a threatening wall pass movement between Begg and Sykes.

An Olympic midfield turnover from a goal kick proved costly in the 39th minute, as Field once again found her mark with a pass to Palombi, who chipped Pahina sublimely from the top of the box for a rare right-foot goal and a 3-0 half-time lead.

There were no changes to either team as the second half commenced to heavier rain. CCFC continued where they left off, with Field sliding a ball from the back post into the Olympic net on 57 minutes for a 4-0 lead, after a miscued Pahina punch from a Palombi free kick.

On the hour, Begg was taken down in the CCFC penalty box by Matic after a lung-busting run from Sykes, but keeper Ally Hinson had the measure of Begg’s spot kick, denying her Olympic’s first goal.

An unfortunate head clash in the 62nd minute between CCFC’s Jamie Berkeley and Olympic’s Emma Croker saw Berkeley taken from the field. Olympic began to ring the changes in the last 20 minutes and to their credit never stopped chasing the game, with all substitutes (Lara Burdett, Lily Dawson, and Gemma Murphy) making an impact and the team taking a few more risks in driving forward.

Murphy was the first to strike for Olympic in the 73rd minute, driving a corner clearance from outside the box onto the crossbar and ricocheting off Hinson’s back into the net, for 4-1. Fensom then capped off a fine game with a well deserved headed goal in the 75th minute, meeting another pinpoint Hagen corner kick and extending CCFC’s lead to 5-1.

Undeterred, Dawson from Olympic pulled one back in the 80th minute to make it 5-2, finishing off a classy move that originated from deep in their own half – and which both Sykes sisters were integral to – one that would have made coach Woodman proud.

A third Olympic goal finished off proceedings in the 87th minute. Cook put away a penalty with aplomb after a handball in the CCFC box and the score ended as 5-3 to Canberra Croatia. The result sees Olympic dropping out of the top four for now, and Canberra Croatia in second spot with three wins from three games.

Brozinic’s team will take much encouragement from this performance, and signs are that the team are on the right trajectory with four games left until finals. Olympic have a bye coming up to refocus for their finals push, and they would like to think that it has the same impact as CCFC’s bye round last week.

Finally, it’s not often that the team with the bye gets a mention in the round wrap but this big news out of Tuggeranong United over the weekend more than warrants the attention:

Final score:

Canberra Olympic 3 (Murphy 73′, Dawson 80′, Cook 87′)

Canberra Croatia FC 5 (Chao 28′, Palombi 30′ 39′, Field 57′, Fensom 75′)

Teams:

Canberra Olympic – Coach: Andrew Woodman

Angelica Pahina, Victoria Jamieson (c), Ella Hemmings, Alexandra Cook, Chloe Rudd, Sienna Farrer, Emma Croker, Nicole Begg, Eleanor Jones, Emma Guo, Ashleigh Sykes
Subs: Lara Burdett (69′ => Croker), Lily Dawson (51′ => Guo), Eleni Haridemos, Louise Kockum, Gemma Murphy (67′ => Rudd)

Yellow cards: 63′ Croker

Canberra Croatia FC – Coach: Nik Brozinic

Alexandra Hinson, Alice Churchill, Rhiannon Fensom, Amy McLachlan, Cecilija Matic, Jamie Berkeley, Grace Gill (c), Krista Hagen, Brittany Palombi, Grace Field, Sharon Chao
Subs:  Lara Agnew, Anna Bennett, Jordan Ujdur (65′ => Berkeley)

Yellow cards: 17′ Matic

Around The Grounds:

Belconnen United FC 1 – 1 Gungahlin United

Monaro Panthers 0 – 0 Woden-Weston FC (play ceased at halftime – washed out)

Canberra United Academy 2 – 1 Wagga City

Tuggeranong United – bye

Round 5 fixtures can be viewed here.

Ladder:

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