Match of the Round: Belconnen United v Canberra FC
What a way to kick off the 2019 Capital Football NPL Women’s competition, with opponents in the previous two grand finals – Belconnen United and Canberra FC – facing off at a cool and blustery McKellar Park on Saturday afternoon.
As the teams took the field it seemed as if little had changed with either squad from 2018. For United, former Canberra United Academy goalkeeper Sally James and ex-Monaro defender Jazz Zaebel made their club debuts, while ex-W-League players Caitlin Munoz and Catherine Brown were unavailable.
For Canberra, it was the first opportunity to see how the team will play under new coach Nik Brozinic, despite Academy recruits Lucy Darcy and Lara Agnew being unavailable for selection, and Chantel Jones still on the mend from an ACL injury sustained last season.
After a somewhat cagey start to the game, it was evident that Canberra have been working hard in pre-season training on their possession game, underpinned by a determined physicality in 50/50 challenges and Ivana Galic’s composure both organising her defence and dealing with threats herself.
United for their part were finding opportunities down the right flank, with Lauren Keir playing wide and finding room to move in attack, linking up with W-League colleague Maddy Whittall to good effect, while her teammates looked to cover the gaps in defence created by her forward runs.
The first half was characterised by two battles: one in central midfield between United’s Michaela Day and Canberra’s Grace Gill, with neither giving the other an inch despite the creativity on show; the other between United defender Jessie Rasschaert and Canberra striker Melissa Bunker, with Rasschaert suffering two head knocks in the first half and being substituted at halftime.
While Canberra were able to move the ball around, they often left a sole attacker isolated, a situation that would be much-improved in the second half.
United almost made the most of their first-half dominance in possession late on, as an Alexia Forner corner kick just before the break was almost turned in after keeper Natasja Vasta failed to connect with the ball.
There were two substitutions made on the half time break: United’s Leah Carnegie replaced the injured Rasschaert, pushing Keir into a more central defensive role, while Canberra withdrew Brittany Palombi in favour of Vanessa Ryan.
The second half saw the game open up, with more room in midfield, end to end action, and a lift in intensity.
Gill was the catalyst for two strong attacking moves around the hour mark: one a remarkable series of one-two passes between United defenders, with the resulting shot just over the bar; the other a solo run between two defenders into the penalty box which also almost bore fruit.
Whittall was involved in two yellow card incidents just before the 70-minute mark, the first awarded to Amy McLachlan for pushing Whittall in the back, while Whittall herself was booked only minutes later for pulling an attacker back by the shirt just outside United’s penalty box. The resulting Canberra free kick found the head of Melissa Bunker in the six yard box, and her downward header appearing to hit the hand of a United defender. The chorus of appeals was waved away by the officials and somehow the ball was cleared.
The last 20 minutes of the game saw the two teams employing different styles of attack as the heavens opened. United often opted for long balls over defenders or towards their wingers, with Canberra defender Alice Churchill winning a number of strong challenges and making well-anticipated interceptions from long passes. United’s shots on goals in this period outnumbered the opponent’s, but were mostly efforts outside the 18-yard box.
Canberra for their part were providing better support for their attackers compared to the first half, but never got as good a chance as the handball shout a little earlier, even with Gill pushing forward late on in the hope of earning a result.
The game finished 0-0 in a tough but entertaining affair. Canberra coach Brozinic may well have come away from the game the more satisfied of the two coaches, and can be pleased with his team’s passing game and fortitude. United coach Antoni Jagarinec will know that there is plenty of time for his team to fulfill the potential that the league knows is in his squad, but may reflect that the undoubted talents of his midfield were likely not employed to their best effect in the second half in the construction of their attacks. He will also be looking at possible injury concerns over Rasschaert and his captain, who looked a little uncomfortable with a possible hip flexor issue in the second half.
Full time: Belconnen United 0 – 0 Canberra FC
Teams:
Belconnen United – Coach: Antoni Jagarinec
Sally James; Lauren Keir (c), Jazz Zaebel, Jessie Rasschaert, Bronte Pyke; Nicole Jalocha, Michaela Day, Sam Price; Madelyn Whittall, Alexia Forner, Ellie Raymond
Subs: Leah Carnegie (Rasschaert 46′), Keira Bobbin (Carnegie 86′)
Yellow cards: Whittall 69′
Canberra FC – Coach: Nik Brozinic
Nastaja Vasta; Bridgette Wright, Ivana Galic, Amy McLachlan, Alice Churchill; Grace Gill (c), Krista Hagen, Jamie Berkeley; Rachel Goldstein, Melissa Bunker, Brittany Palombi
Subs: Vanessa Ryan (Palombi 46′), Sharon Cho (Bunker 84′)
Yellow cards: McLachlan 66′
