Week 1 of the 2025 Capital Football NPLW finals featured the Grand Final Qualifier as well as the Elimination Final. Both games were held at McKellar Park in unseasonably warm (for Canberra) weather.
For an alternate review, check out the Capital Football article from Sam Watson.
Qualifying Final: Belconnen United vs Canberra Croatia
An arm-wrestle of a first half played out in the 4pm Grand Final qualifier, with both keepers – Claire Joseph and Ellie Summers – showing confidence and high-order decision making. Canberra Croatia’s 4-2-3-1 formation, with wide defenders EJ Norris and Tiana Boots given licence to push forward, again asked questions of the undefeated Blue Devils.
There were great matchups all over the park, with Bronte Pyke on Brittany Palombi, Michaela Thornton on ex-teammate Talia Backhouse, and Kiera Bobbin on EJ Norris… but perhaps Stefi Lejins on Reilly Yuen and Boots on Pascale La Hei would be key to the outcome.
It was 0-0 at halftime, with corner stats and shots on goal slightly in favour of the team in blue.
The second half saw no changes, but a rise in intensity across the board. Potentially a little unwell, CCFC left-back Boots left the field in the 54th minute. Three minutes later, La Hei opened the scoring for Belconnen with a top left corner beauty teed up by Anneke Corry.
Alina Roberts threatened a second not long after, her classy 360-degree swivel not quite matched by the accuracy of the finish. Most of the play was clearly in Canberra Croatia territory by this time.
Bobbin was judged to have been brought down in the CCFC box with 10 minutes to go, Isy Hindmarsh confirming her team’s second goal with a well-taken bottom left corner penalty.
Canberra Croatia hopes were raised late when substitute Riley McQueenie did well to get onto Palombi’s exquisite set-piece chip over the wall, touching the ball past Claire Joseph into the net.
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La Hei, however, punctuated the Blue Devils’ win in added time, after Lisa Cary’s intelligent throw to Bobbin was delivered low to La Hei at the back post for a tap-in. Her double ensured the Blue Devils’ progression to the grand final.
>>> Full match timeline and team line-ups can be found here <<<
Final score:
Belconnen United 3 (Pascale La Hei 57′ 90′, Isy Hindmarsh 81′)
Canberra Croatia 1 (Riley McQueenie 87′)
Elimination Final: Canberra Olympic vs Gungahlin United
It became apparent during the warm-up for the 7pm elimination final that Gungahlin United would have their work cut out for them. Standing on the field watching the team go through their paces were the following regulars: Bonnie Young, Georgia Ritchie, Ayla Robertson, Chelsea Hately, Maddie Perceval, Rachael Van Aalst, and Stella De Marco.
Canberra Olympic was at full strength with an enviable-looking bench in comparison.
The Gunners’ cause was not helped when experienced attacking midfielder Nat De Marco also limped off the field before the game had seen 20 minutes. In this period, Olympic was dominant, doing everything they could to test keeper Hannah Ferguson from near (Tehya Aspland, back from Junior Matildas duties) and from far (Madison Cachia). Yet we could see Ferguson’s confidence growing with each successful grab.
Having ridden out the early storm, the Gunners set about settling into the game and creating chances of their own, particularly via the efforts of Darby Whiteley and Ginger Oliver. The teams went into the sheds scoreless, with Olympic doubtless frustrated and the Gunners determined for more of the same.
Tatum Mazis, Cachia, and substitute Nicole Kaleb conspired to arrive at the decisive moment of the match in the 66th minute. Mazis beat her opponent on the left before finding Cachia, whose first-time touch for Kaleb ricocheted off the advancing Ferguson for Kaleb to score.
The closest either side got to scoring after that was Miro’s effort onto Ferguson’s crossbar from around 20 yards in the 77th minute, and the score remained 1-0 to Canberra Olympic.
Special mention goes to the Gunners’ backline, with Annaliese Grove stepping up superbly at centre back, and excellent performances from Lucy D’Arcy and Ivy Stevens against the attacking prowess of Canberra Olympic.
The victory sees Olympic into the Preliminary Final next Sunday against Canberra Croatia at Deakin Stadium. Still, the team may need to lift their performance based on this showing to match it with the red-and-whites.
>>> Full match timeline and team line-ups can be found here <<<
Final score:
Canberra Olympic 1 (Nicole Kaleb 66′)
Gungahlin United 0
Next up: Finals week 2 – Preliminary Final
