NPL1 Round 13 Wrap
- Tim Warren
- Sep 26, 2019
- 2 min read
By Tim Warren / capitalfootball.com.au
Belconnen United 2 (Michael Taurasi 50’, 90+2’) def. Canberra FC 1 (Jason Ugrinic 51’)
In what shaped up to be a huge match in the context of both sides top-four hopes, the match of the round certainly didn’t disappoint.
Belconnen United recorded a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Canberra FC at McKellar Park on Saturday afternoon, thanks to Michael Taurasi’s 92nd minute winner.
The victory means that the Blue Devils have once again moved into the top-four on 16 competition points, with tight-fought race for finals set to come down to the wire.
The loss also places an increased level of pressure on the visitors, with Canberra FC sitting in sixth position after 13 rounds and requiring a strong run home if they want to feature in finals football in 2019.
With a lot at stake in terms of ladder position, neither side wanted to make an early mistake, causing both sides to take a reserved approach in the opening period of the game.
The best goal scoring opportunity of the first half fell to Canberra FC’s Ryan Keir in the 38th minute, who squandered his clear-cut chance by heading the ball over the bar from only metres out from goal.
It was a frustrating first half from Keir’s perspective, the midfielder failing to find the back of the net just minutes earlier when his low-driven shot was well stopped by Belconnen keeper Deakin Jewell.
The second half started with faster intensity and desire than the first, shaping the game into a more attacking and end-to-end game.
Belconnen were the first team to strike in the 50th minute when Taurasi claimed the opening goal of the game by turning the ball into the net following a corner.
However that sparked Canberra FC into action, and they quickly found the equaliser just two minutes later when Jason Ugrinic curled a wonderful strike into the top-left corner past a diving Jewell.
As the second half played out and full-time lingered it appeared that the two teams would share the points, with both sides failing to find the go-ahead goal.
But he complexion of the match changed when Canberra FC’s Daniel Subasic was sent from the pitch for ten minutes with a temporary dismissal after arguing with the referee over a disallowed goal.
Canberra FC looked to have found the winner in the 85th minute when a superb header found the net following a corner, however the goal was quickly overturned for a foul in the leadup, sparking Subasic’s protests.
The drama reached another gear in the 92nd minute when Taurasi reclaimed the lead for Belconnen in the final seconds of the match.
The home side received a free-kick just outside the 18-yard box, which was quickly taken and that caught the visiting backline out as Taurasi strolled into the box and tapped the ball home past keeper Sam Brown.
Belconnen once again have another crucial top four match-up next weekend as they host Gungahlin United at McKellar Park, while Canberra FC will be looking to record a win against Woden-Weston at Melrose.
Comments