Capital Football‘s Federation Cup is a knockout tournament that runs in parallel with the NPL season. The Women’s edition of the Cup has run since 2012, and clubs do not need to be in the NPL to participate.
Belconnen United is no stranger to Federation Cup success, having won the trophy seven times, including last year’s edition. Perhaps surprisingly, their opponent Canberra Croatia has only taken the title once, in 2021.
Federation Cup final: Belconnen United vs Canberra Croatia (Bar TV)
While the Blue Devils sit atop the NPL ladder and come into this game as favourites, they also narrowly lost their first NPL game last weekend. Pearl Tein and Pascale La Hei came into the starting lineup, with Alyse Jensen and Alyssa Di Campli listed on the bench.
Currently in fourth position in the NPL, Canberra Croatia has a more talented squad than their ladder position suggests. Their best moments this year have come in the Federation Cup competition, where they first knocked out Canberra Olympic in April, then accounted for Gungahlin United in the semi-final. Powerhouse centre-back Rhiannon Fensom returned to the top-grade starting lineup for the first time this season, with Arusha Chew selected on the bench, and Nadia Zakman, Zoe Sobczak, and Josie Dubbert unavailable.
Three successive Brittany Palombi corner kicks from her favoured side in the 6th minute failed to yield anything of note for Canberra Croatia, with the Blue Devils quick to respond at the other end. A nice wall-pass touchline movement initiated by eventual Player of the Match Bronte Pyke led to the pacey La Hei’s cut-back to a perfectly positioned Pearl Tein in the Canberra Croatia box. Tein’s first-time side-footed finish opened the scoring nine minutes in, and 81 long minutes later was to be the decider, with Tein now scoring in successive Federation Cup finals.
There was much in the way of football to be played out after the goal, however, in a contest where Belconnen United held the upper hand but was made to battle for every inch by their determined opponent. The available speed down either flank (La Hei and the wonderfully direct Keira Bobbin) made for a torrid time for wide Canberra Croatia defenders Dianne Wilson and Eliza-Jane Norris, who stuck gamely to their task. Deeper-lying Pyke and Lauren Preston also drove into the wide channels more as the game progressed, adding to the threat down either touchline.
Key to Canberra Croatia’s ability to withstand the dynamic blue jersey attacking raids was a typically whole-hearted defensive effort by Fensom, a welcome sight for the Deakin faithful.
Canberra Croatia began imposing themselves a little more from around the half-hour mark. The Blue Devils did well to limit opportunities in and around the box to the clever feet and mind of Bella Barac – who recently reminded the competition how damaging she can be – and the deadly left foot of captain Palombi, who was occasionally left isolated when fellow attacker Megan Castle assisted her midfielders. In a good day for centre-backs, Ailish McDonagh, who was in the heart of the Blue Devils defence, was again impressive.
Belconnen United – described by Palombi post-match as the benchmark club this year – are deserved 2024 Federation Cup winners, adding to their impressive tally of Cup successes.
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Final score:
Belconnen United 1 (Pearl Tein 9′)
Canberra Croatia 0
Next week:
NPL resumes – Round 11
