Goals: 1:0 Dominic Giampaolo (28.); 1:1 Dustin Wells (34.); 2:1 Dominic Giampaolo (61.); 3:1 Daniel Barac (67.); 3:2 Tom Rogic (90+3.)

Canberra Olympic opened their 2011 Rock Premier League season by claiming a stunning 3-2 win over loop Federation Cup finalists Belconnen United at O’Connor Enclosed. The Blue Devils would have entered the match as favourites having dismantled Olympic in their pre-season cup encounter however it was the home team that made the brighter start and took the lead through a 28th minute goal from Domenic Giampaolo. The lead was relatively short-lived though with Dustin Wells, whose absence was noticeable from their loop Federation Cup Final defeat, equalising for Belconnen barely six minutes later. Emerging from the sheds at 1-1 it was anyone’s game and it was Olympic who were to take a firm grip on proceedings with a brace of goals within six minutes of the hour mark. Firstly Giampaolo struck his second of the match on 61 minutes before Daniel Barac, the young forward who spent three weeks on trial at Watford earlier this year, made the score 3-1 and the points seemingly safe. Belconnen however have plenty of talent in their ranks and made Olympic sweat, especially when Tom Rogic reduced the lead to 3-2 in stoppage time. The Blue Devils then had a chance to draw level but were denied by some heroic home goalkeeping as Olympic held on for a deserved three points.

Canberra Olympic: 1. Jack Bradbury (gk), 2. Travis Dries, 3. James Field, 4. Joel Valtonen, 5. Andrew Ross, 7. Nicholas Sallecchia, 9. Domenic Giampolo, 11. Jakob Williams, 12. Milan Popovic, 15. Daniel Barac, 16. Robbie Shroder

Substitutes used: 6. Billy Sgouros, 10. Mohsen Ravanparsa, 19. Elia Salloum

Belconnen United: 1. Rohan Shephard (gk), 3. Dustin Wells, 4. Lee Pietrukowski, 5. Taylor Beaton, 6. Elliot Zwangobani, 7. Callum Beaton, 9. Nicky Rogers, 11. David Kemp, 12. Tom Rogic, 16. Zac Maybury, 18. Jack Blackley

Substitutes used: 2. Matt Valeri, 15. Tom McLachlan, 17. Julian Piromalli

Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: 7. Nicholas Sallecchia (Canberra Olympic)

Match Officials: Greg Taylor (referee), Sam Ockerby, Owen Watson