Cooma Tigers 3–2 Belconnen United
National Premier Leagues Capital Football 1 – Round 7 | 9 May 2026

Match Summary

Cooma Tigers edged out Belconnen United in a thrilling five-goal contest at Nijong Oval, securing a 3–2 victory that keeps them firmly in the hunt for the top spots in the Capital Football premiership race. The home side showed resilience after twice being pegged back, finally sealing the win with a decisive second-half strike.

How the Game Unfolded

From the opening whistle, both teams pressed high, creating an open, end‑to‑end encounter. The Tigers struck first in the 18th minute when winger Lachlan Stevens finished off a swift counter‑attack, slotting past Belconnen goalkeeper James Park. United responded quickly, equalising just six minutes later through a well‑worked set piece that saw defender Matt Ryan head home from a corner.

The second half continued at a frenetic pace. Cooma regained the lead in the 61st minute via a low drive from midfielder Alex Georgiou after a neat one‑two on the edge of the box. Again Belconnen fought back, levelling in the 74th minute when striker Ben Wickham pounced on a loose ball inside the area. However, the Tigers’ resolve held firm, and with 10 minutes remaining, substitute Daniel Costa powered home a header from a free‑kick delivery to restore the lead for good.

Key Performers

• Daniel Costa (Cooma Tigers) – The impact substitute changed the game with his winning goal and physical presence.
• Ben Wickham (Belconnen United) – Clinical finishing to score the visitors’ second equaliser, keeping his team in the contest.
• Lachlan Stevens (Cooma Tigers) – Opened the scoring and caused problems all afternoon with his pace on the flank.

Table Implications

The victory lifts Cooma Tigers to third place, now only two points behind leaders Canberra Olympic. Belconnen United, meanwhile, drop to sixth, a point outside the finals places. With the season approaching its midpoint, every result carries extra weight in a tightly‑packed Capital Football table.