Gungahlin United v Riverina Rhinos | Saturday, 3pm @ AIS Grass Field 2

Gungahlin United will be looking to continue a strong run of league form when they host the Rhinos at the AIS on Saturday afternoon. Despite a loss to Canberra FC in the FFA Cup Qualifying Final last weekend, United have won four consecutive league matches including a 1-0 victory over Olympic during the week and look like top four material after a slow start to the season. Marcial Munoz’s side have played into form and are finding the back of the net easier, although their single goal against Olympic on Wednesday came courtesy of an own goal. The acquisition of Victor Yanes will bolster the backline, while United look close to complete in midfield and up front. Thomas Muller continues to impress in all competitions and will prove to be a testing opponent for the Rhinos defence.

The Rhinos have struggled after beginning the season in decent form, and discipline has been their biggest worry. Players have been sent off in a number of matches which has hurt the Rhinos while in strong positions, and they have not won since a round four victory over Monaro. Attack has also been a struggle with just 10 goals in nine games, and that needs to begin to improve if Gabriel Abdala’s side is to make a strong impression through the second half of the season. This weekend caps off three straight rounds in Canberra before the Rhinos have the bye and then are back home the following weekend, and a result here would be a big positive ahead of a return to Griffith.

 

Belconnen United v Woden-Weston | Saturday, 5:30pm @ McKellar Park & LIVE on BarTV Sports

Belconnen United and Woden-Weston will try to keep touch with the top four on Saturday night as they clash at McKellar Park, LIVE on BarTV Sports. Both sides have experienced mixed seasons so far, but remain in the mix for a finals berth at this stage. United remain four points out of fourth after they lost to Gungahlin United last round, while Woden-Weston are five points behind and need to begin making up some ground. Last time these two met the Wanderers recorded a 4-2 win at Woden Park and Rey Castro will be looking for a similar display this weekend. That win was a brilliant display of attacking football, and Castro’s side have shown that they are capable of that in flashes so far this season. After a weekend off to rest up from a busy schedule of matches, the Wanderers approach this match fit and firing.

For United, their last league outing ended in defeat to Gungahlin United, but before that they bounced back under their new coaching duo with a home win against Tigers. McKellar Park has been a mixed bag for the hosts this season with two wins and two losses, and the Blue Devils will be keen to turn that into a positive stat here. The week off will have helped with nursing a couple of injuries and Ulisses Da Silva and Steve Forshaw should have a strong squad to pick from. The two have had a mixed beginning to their tenure at the club with a loss in the FFA Cup to Canberra FC sandwiched between the win over Tigers and the loss to Gungahlin. They will know when they kick-off how far behind Gungahlin they are, and can easily finish the weekend level, or six points behind. This shapes as a crunch clash and with the early season result serving as a marker, it also presents as a strong sign of where the side is at.

 

Monaro Panthers v Canberra Olympic | Sunday, 3pm @ Googong

Monaro Panthers will try and repeat one of the upsets of the season when they host Canberra Olympic at Duncan on Sunday. Their 1-0 win in round two took the league by surprise but they have struggled to replicate that sort of form in the rounds since, picking up only one more point in the seven matches following it. They have conceded 21 goals in those seven matches, but have still looked promising and played decent football. The throwaway of a 3-0 lead to Tuggeranong in round eight cost them crucial points and momentum with that match then followed by a tough period of consecutive losses in the league and cup. This time they face an Olympic side in looking in better shape than they did early, but Zoran Glavinic’s men will still need a concerted effort and a strong defensive performance in this outing to get a result.

Olympic have had a couple of weekends off but returned to action on Wednesday night, when they went down by a goal to Gungahlin United at the AIS in a rescheduled fixture. That was only their second league loss of the season though, and 2017’s table toppers have improved after what seemed like a sluggish start to the campaign. They now form part of a three-way logjam at the top of the table, one point behind Tuggeranong United and Canberra FC, but with a game in hand on the former. Unlike the last two years, Frank Cachia can put all his resources into the league at this stage of the season, and will not need to worry about cup fixtures getting in the way. They will be focused on the top of the table as one would expect, but need to keep an eye on the rear view mirror with Gungahlin United making a run. Cachia will hope that his side are more efficient here than they were in the round two loss, and can jump Canberra FC with a win.

 

Tigers FC v Tuggeranong United | Sunday, 3pm @ Nijong Oval

Tigers FC will be out to build on their last victory on Sunday when they host Tuggeranong United in Cooma. Mark Shields stoppage time winner against Woden-Weston last round gave the side an invaluable three points and allowed them to jump the Wanderers into sixth on the table. They now sit four points outside the top four and this week take on second-placed Tuggeranong. The last time these two met they served up a cracker of a match as United snuck away with a 4-3 win, and more of the same is on the cards here. Tigers have struggled to get going for much of the season, with results hard to come by against the top teams. Their three wins have come against the only three teams below them on the table, and it is time for them to begin picking up points against the top sides if they are to make a run at finals.

Tuggeranong have arguably been the surprise packet of the season and sit level on points with Canberra FC at the top of the table. Canberra FC do have a game in hand on them but United can put the pressure on Paul Macor’s side by jumping them on the table this weekend with a win. Mitch Steven said earlier in the season that he wanted his side to put in the work all season to avoid chasing other tails to make finals, and his team have made good on that so far. His side are playing as a strong unit, although questions have been asked of their defence, and the 17 goals they have conceded is the most of anyone in the top four. But they have produced the scoring output to match that with Aisosa Ihegie doing plenty of damage, and they will be a tough opponent for Tigers to handle this weekend.