Riverina Rhinos v Belconnen United | Saturday, 5pm @ Solar Mad Stadium

The Rhinos and Belconnen United will both be looking to bounce back from heavy losses when they clash in Griffith this weekend. The Rhinos were thumped to the tune of 7-0 by Tigers last Saturday for a third straight loss in the league and have dropped back to sixth after a stellar few weeks to open the season. After going into the break only two goals down last weekend the Rhinos shipped five in the second half and will need to ensure a better second 45 this time out. Two penalties also proved costly, something of a theme with the Rhinos discipline this year and Gabriel Abdula needs to implore his side to remove costly defensive lapses like those.

For Belconnen, a 5-0 humbling at the hands of Canberra FC was not a performance many were expecting at home, but it must be said that United were not far out of the game when Daniel Barac was dismissed for a reckless challenge that brought about a second yellow card. The hosts had chances of their own but were unable to take them and they will need to be more ruthless this weekend. Peter Mazis’ side now sit six points off top spot and having played a game more, and are held out of the top four by virtue of Tigers’ superior goal difference. United have scored only 10 times in their six matches, a far cry from the 24 they scored in their first six matches last season and they have the chance against the league’s leakiest defense to improve on that here.

 

Canberra FC v Woden-Weston | Sunday, 3pm @ Deakin Stadium

A sixth straight league win is on the cards for Canberra FC this weekend, but they will face a challenge against the free-flowing Woden-Weston. Paul Macor’s side thumped Belconnen United last weekend by five goals before seeing off Canberra Olympic in the FFA Cup during the week and they carry plenty of momentum into this home outing. They are now three points clear at the top of the table and have conceded just three goals through their five league matches with stifling defense. Thomas James in on fire and streaking away with the golden boot already and grabbed another brace during the week in the FFA Cup tie. He will prove a handful for the Wanderers who were involved in a shootout last week at Woden Park.

That draw with Monaro was arguably a game that Rey Castro’s side could have won, having squandered a lead three times and they will be hungry for three points here. They still linger in ninth spot following the competitions decision that saw them forfeit two wins, and the rebuild continues here. They got off to a fast start last week and good starts have usually lead to good results for this team. They will find it a touch harder to score four goals this week than they did last week with Canberra FC holding the title of the competition’s stingiest backline but their pace still has the capacity to test the hosts. A win or draw here would be a positive for this side ahead of a weekend off, and a chance to reset ahead of a better run of fixtures to begin the second half of the season.

 

Tigers FC v Canberra Olympic | Sunday, 3pm @ Nijong Oval

A seven-goal win last weekend from Tigers over the Rhinos was a big return to form from Gaby Wilk’s side, but it has also helped to mask some of their early season form on the table. The three points they gained from Woden-Weston’s round one forfeit has pushed them up the table, with their only other win a victory over struggling Monaro a few weeks back. They now face a serious test against Canberra Olympic looking to improve their record against top three sides. So far a 7-2 shellacking from Canberra FC and a 4-3 loss to Tuggeranong are what they have to show from coming up against sides up the pointy end of the table. The sharing of the goalscoring against Rhinos is no doubt a positive for Wilk, with six different players on the scoresheet and he will now hope for a repeat team effort here.

Olympic did not play in the league last week due to the conditions at Gungahlin Enclosed, before suffering a midweek defeat in the cup to Canberra FC. That was a physical encounter but it was not until the final 10 minutes that Canberra FC pulled away thanks to a penalty, and Frank Cachia will be hoping that his side pull up without issue for the trip to Cooma. Olympic still sit in a great position in the league just three points behind Canberra FC, and three ahead of this weekend’s opponents. A win in Cooma would help them push that gap to six and entrench themselves in the top four ahead of the long weekend break. One only needs to cast their mind back to Round 3, 2017 when the then-reigning Grand Final winners handed out a 7-1 hiding to the same side at Nijong Oval.

 

 

Monaro Panthers v Tuggeranong United | Sunday, 3pm @ Duncan Fields – LIVE on BarTV Sports

Tuggeranong United head out to Googong on Sunday afternoon looking to get back to winning ways, with the bye last week coming after a 4-2 loss to Gungahlin United in round six. United are still in third spot on the table though and will be confident coming into this match against a Panthers side who have won just one game. The worry for Mitch Stevens is that his side have now lost their last two matches, and need to arrest that slide having picked up maximum points in the four matches preceding that. They are three points behind leaders Canberra FC having played a game more, and need to ensure they remain in touch with the ladder leaders approaching the long weekend break from matches. Player management will be important too with a likely FFA Cup clash with the same opponent looming during the week, and Stevens may have selection decisions to make to keep everyone fresh.

For Monaro, they showed great spirit to repeatedly come from behind at Woden Park and also record their biggest goal haul so far this season. That was the first time they had scored more than once in a match, and also the first time in the league or cup that someone other than Sam Smith scored. Their 90^th minute equaliser was emblematic of a fighting spirit that had maybe been missing earlier in the season, and they will be keen to force the issue against Tuggeranong here. This is the same venue and matchup where Panthers caused an upset in the final round of the 2017 season to deny Tuggeranong a spot in the finals, and Zoran Glavinic would be happy for a clean sheet and win here too. Much will hinge though on which Monaro outfit does turn up given the chance to jump Gungahlin United on the table into seventh spot with a win or draw.