Canberra Classico at Deakin Stadium as Canberra Olympic defeated Canberra Croatia 2-1 in a fiery National Premier League encounter that saw the dismissal of the hosts Captain, Matt Grbesa, for a pair of yellow cards inside the opening 26 minutes of the contest.
By the time the home team were reduced in number, Olympic had struck once, and almost twice. The opening goal came after only two minutes as Luca Macor clipped a sensational pass over the top of the Croatia defence for Popovich to control and shoot past Jason Matesa, who got a hand on the ball but was unable to keep it out.
Shortly afterwards Luca Florez hit the post when well-placed, before Grbeša was sent off for a challenge after earlier receiving a yellow for dissent. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Croatia were still a threat and Sebastian Usai was called upon to make a sharp stop from Daniel Barač.
However, it was Olympic who struck again as Croatia saw a penalty shout turned away, only for the visitors to break, Popovich holding off a couple of challenges to slot a confident drive past Matesa for his twelfth goal in all competitions this season. A late spot-kick, converted by substitute Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu reduced the lead and gave Croatia a sniff, but it was too late to affect the final result.
At O’Connor Enclosed, three second-half goals ensured Tigers FC jumped to the top of the table on goals scored ahead of the Canberra Classico as the visiting team saw off O’Connor Knights 3-0. They could even afford to see Josh Gulevski miss a penalty at 0-0, Knights’ goalkeeper Seb Arranz saving well.
There was little Arranz could do three minutes after the spot-kick success though as Gulevski broke the offside trap and rattled his seventh of the season past Arranz who shortly would suffer the most incredible bad luck as Tigers increased the lead to two. Nikos Kalfas waltzed across field and cut back onto his right foot to drive a shot at goal that clattered off the crossbar and into the net after striking the luckless Knights number one on the back of the head. It was rough on the ‘keeper who had earlier pulled of a brilliant save.
The Knights weren’t without their chances, Jakob Cole in the Tigers goal called into action to make a brilliant low save from a Tyson Livermore drive in the first-half, and latterly to deny Phakedi Manda with his legs as it seemed certain the lively winger would equalise. When Riley Angelosante looped a header onto a post, there was no way back for Knights who saw salt rubbed into the wound as Tigers substitute Ed McCarthy ghosted in unmarked to thump in a header from six-yards in the final minute of the encounter.
Earlier in the week on Wednesday the 17th May Canberra Croatia won their catch up game against West Canberra Wanderers 2-0.
This Sunday 27th of May, both Canberra Croatia and O’Connor Knights will face each other in the local derby which always attracts a large audience. With both teams coming of losses, so there is sure to be plenty of action for fans. Kick off for this game is scheduled for 15:00.
