A tenacious Canberra United side has beaten Adelaide United 4-2, marking their fourth win in a row thanks to a goal from Grace Maher and a hat-trick from Michelle Heyman.
The last time Canberra won four straight was during the 2015/16 season where they eventually finished in second place, going down in their semi-final to eventual winners Melbourne City in extra time.
Both sides in the current match were without their young gun duos; Sasha Grove and Chloe Lincoln for Canberra, and Emilia Murray and Grace Wilson, as they suit up for international duties with the Young Matildas.
Canberra was quick out of the kick off as they continued on with their recent string of good starts.
Adelaide thwarted their first attempt but the home side kept up their efforts to earn a penalty kick after Vesna Milivojevic drew a foul from Jenna McCormick.
Grace Maher successfully stepped up for Canberra to score off the penalty and make it her fourth goal this season scored in the fourth minute of a match.
The home side’s good form continued when just seven minutes later they doubled their lead thanks to their captain, Michelle Heyman.
Adelaide recovered from the shock opening and came back with an attack of their own. A through ball from Meisha Westland found its way to Katie Bowler who pegged one back for the visitors.
Two goals in two minutes at McKellar Park! ⏱️
Michelle Heyman draws level with Hannah Keane atop the Golden Boot standings, before Maruschka Waldus pulls a goal back immediately.
Catch all the action LIVE on #DubZone 📺
Tune in here: https://t.co/MLIJyigJVH pic.twitter.com/YVCgJCOQpG
— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) March 4, 2023
The goal scoring and excitement wasn’t over yet, in the 30th minute Heyman scored again with a flying header before two minutes later Adelaide hit their second through Maruschka Waldus.
The action continued in the second half and it was Adelaide who came out with the pressure on. However, despite keeping possession for majority of the term the visitors were unable to find a goal.
It was a wrestle of a match as both teams tried to make something happen and it was Canberra’s patience that paid off when Heyman found her third of the match.
The win moves Heyman to the top of the Golden Boot race and puts Canberra one step closer to a top four finish.
For their next matches, Adelaide will head back home to face Perth Glory, while Canberra head up the road to Sydney to take on the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Canberra United 4 (Maher 4’, Heyman 11’ 30’ 76’)
Adelaide United 2 (Bowler 20’, Waldus 32’)
Stadium: McKellar Park, Canberra
Referee: Isabella Libri
Assistant Referees: Delfina Dimoski and Amber Morris
Fourth Official: Georgia Ghirardello
Canberra United: Keely RICHARDS (GK), Holly MURRAY (WU Chengshu 45’), Laura HUGHES (Chloe MIDDLETON 66’), Grace MAHER, Grace JALE, Emma ILIJOSKI, Kennedy FAULKNOR, Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG, Vesna MILIVOJEVIC, Nickoletta FLANNERY (Ellen GETT 80’), Michelle HEYMAN (C) (Grace TARANTO 88′)
Unused subs: Keely SEGAVCIC (GK)
Adelaide United: Annalee GROVE (GK), Emily HODGSON, Jenna McCORMICK, Maruschka WALDUS, Paige HAYWARD (Fiona WORTS 65’), Dylan HOLMES, Nanako SASAKI, Meisha WESTLAND, MelindaJ BARBIERI, Katie BOWLER (Hannah HOLGERSEN 65’ Zoe TOLLAND 73’), Isabel HODGSON (C),
Unused subs: Jenna FARROW (GK), Erin KONTOUTSIKOS
Feature image credit: Anthony Caffery Photography
Enjoy this content? Support The Football Sack
Due in part to COVID and lack of current sponsorship we are at risk of not having the funds to continue running The Football Sack. If you enjoy our content and support our work in training talented young writers, please support us with a donation. If every reader contributed just $3, our funding would be covered for over ten years.
| DONATE |
