Canberra United have put in a dominant performance at home against the Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 18 of the Ninja A-League Women’s, moving up to second on the ladder.
United started brightly, with a curling effort from Josie Aulicino looking destined for the top corner, only to be denied by a world class save from Shamiran Khamis.
Only a couple of minutes later and United’s early dominance paid off as Aulicino got the better of Khamis. A deep free kick from Bethany Gordon found the head of Liz Anton, who nodded back towards an unmarked Aulicino for a first time finish into the bottom corner.
Aulicino nearly had a second just over 10 minutes later, with another bottom corner shot but Khamis was alert to the danger and dived low to claim the ball.
Wanderers began to grow into the match, and looked likely to score with Alyssa Ng-Saad through on goal only for Nanako Sasaki to put her off and allow the rest of the backline to get back.
United continued to pepper the Wanderers goal, with Khamis in fine form to keep the deficit to one at the break.
The second half started the same as the first, with Aulicino attempting a long range looping shot, with Khamis back-pedalling to keep the ball out.
United were utterly dominant throughout the second half and it showed as Aulicino, putting in arguably her best performance to date, found her second of the match. Nanako Sasaki laid off to Aulicino who hit a thunderous shot first time, with the ball sailing into the top corner.
Less than ten minutes later and United had wrapped up the three points as Michelle Heyman, having not scored in eight games, got on the end of a deflected corner and steered the ball home to wrap up the three points.
