Antoni Jagarinec is unquestionably a confident, optimistic coach who, clearly, doesn’t mind a challenge. Having taken over the Head Coach job at Canberra United only a short while ago he faced some pretty big challenges from the get go. Assuming he could ignore the backroom shenanigans that threatened to derail the club before a ball was kicked, he had to build a team from the ground up having lost the core nucleus of players from 2023-24. All of which makes this result even more impressive.
Remember, only a short while ago Canberra barely had a team. The team that took the field on Saturday looked very different to the one that defeated Brisbane Roar in the final game of last season – no Lincoln, Clark, Illijoski, Grove, Whittall, Milivojevic, Flannery or Clough. Thankfully there was, and still is, Heyman. There is hope!
How the team lined up
First game of the season was anyone’s guess? Canberra went for a 4-5-1 formation with two wide players, Markovski and Keane, doing the hard yards between defence, midfield and attack. Experienced defender Elizabeth Anton missed the first game so Hayley Taylor-Young played down the middle with Alex McKenzie. This is the first time, to my knowledge, that Hayley has played down the middle. Young Matilda Tegan Bertolissio filled the right back position. It appears a fairly defensive formation but with Heyman up front Canberra had effectively three forwards!
This made for a very inexperienced defence that looked understandably nervous for the first 15 minutes of frantic defending. Brisbane seemed in control with Yallop pulling the strings in midfield and Sharn Freier causing havoc down the left side. But then Canberra did the Canberra thing – lulling the opposition into a false sense of superiority before doing the only thing that matters in football. James rolled the ball out to McKenzie, pass to Christopherson, first time to Emma Robers who lobs the ball over the defensive line to Heyman running through. Heyman with a clear run on goal usually only has one outcome – the crowd rose together in anticipation – a shot well saved but Markovski followed up to put Canberra ahead. Markovski went for the Ronaldo ‘Siuuuu’ celebration which needs a bit of work but full marks for giving it a shot. Maya Markovski looks like an excellent signing for Canberra. She’s strong, has serious skills and is calm in front of goal. She also plays with her socks half down which is good to see in an era of the long sock!
Canberra settled after the goal, the game evened out. Then on the 30 minute mark a nice move from the back put Tegan Bertolissio into space who hoofed it into the box. The two Brisbane centre backs were preoccupied with stopping Heyman, as you would, so left Mary Stanic-Floody alone inside the box. Heyman, obviously, forced the error and Stanic-Floody did the rest with a superb volley into the top corner. This was a difficult and spectacular goal that needed perfect technique. So…
Let’s talk about Mary.
Last season Mary Stanic-Floody was the grafter in midfield. The battler. The annoying, at your feet, in your face player that every team needs. She’s still only 18 years old but plays with a maturity and vision well beyond her years. She’s going to get better and for what she lacks in pace she more than makes up for in spirit and pure hard work. Canberra has a similar player in Holly Murray, who came off the bench in this game, so it will be interesting to see how these two play together in the weeks ahead.
Brisbane kept coming but the Roar were muted. Freier was a constant danger down the left but there wasn’t a lot to show for all their possession. Canberra could be grateful for a bit of jet lag in the legs of Freier and Yallop as they drifted in and out of the game. By half time Brisbane had 61% possession and 11 shots to 3. But shots on target were 3 and 2, with Canberra leading the game 2-0. It’s a funny game football!
Squeaky bum time
The second half started pretty much like the first but with a tad more composure from the Canberra backs in dealing with the wave of Brisbane attacks. Alex McKenzie created a half chance for Aiden Keane when she launched a cross field bomb to the winger near the edge of the penalty box. Her touch let her down and the keeper smothered the chance. Tameka Yallop clearly thought this was a good move so launched her own cross field bomb toward Freier. Freier chested the ball down, beat Taylor-Young on the bye-line and passed to Popadinova near the edge of the six yard box. The Bulgarian international completely botched the shot but, regardless, the ball somehow squirmed past James and Brisbane had clawed one back. Freier did a little fist pump and jogged back to the centre circle like she was catching the 42 bus to Belconnen.
The game went into a momentary lull before Stanic-Floody set up Keane with a beautiful cross field pass. Keane turned well but her shot was over the bar. Then Stanic-Floody and Markovski combined to send the ball across the face of goal. Pressure was building Canberra’s way and It wasn’t long before Canberra had their chance to botch a shot toward goal. Bertollisio launched another speculator into the box, Stanic-Floody squared back in for Markovski to turn and shin the ball just over the line. Brisbane looked deflated, Canberra pumped.
To Brisbane’s credit they kept coming. Jagarinec bought on Ruby Nathan, Holly Murray and young Matilda Jynaya Dos-Santos for Keane, Heyman and Darcy Malone. Heyman was on for 70 minutes, played an important part in two goals not long after getting off a flight from Germany. Job done. Brisbane wrung the changes too but resisted the temptation to give Freier a rest. She’s not 36 years old!
In the 87th minute Christopherson bought down Popadinova on the edge of the box. Del La Harpe took the free kick which, cruelly, deflected off the excellent Taylor-Young and into the goal, 3-2 with around 9 minutes to go. Brisbane knew time was running out so grabbed the ball and ran back to the centre circle as if Canberra were going to take their time for the restart. As if! So it was all hands on deck for the final few minutes or ‘squeaky bum time’ as the Paramount+ commentator eloquently put it. The only squeaky moment was when Popinova got through on goal but Sally James made a fine save. Canberra may not have Chloe Lincoln but we they have Sally James. So all good between the sticks.
So, game one of the 2024-25 ends with a win. No doubt Markovski will get the Canberra player of the match but this was a win built off a spirited and determined defensive display from a young back line. Given the circumstances and weeks preceding this game, the result is a huge credit to Jagarinec, his staff and the playing group.
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