Canberra United have fallen to defeat at the hands of the league leading Western United in round 18 of the Liberty A-League Womens season.
It was not an ideal to the game for Canberra as Western found the back of the net three times in the opening 15 minutes.
Hannah Keane opened the scoring inside the first minute with a well-struck shot from just outside the box.
Chloe Logarzo made it two for the hosts eight minutes later, converting from the spot after Keane was brought down in the box.
Keane would get her second of the afternoon not long after, heading home from the middle of the box.
Despite the sluggish start to the match, Canberra had plenty of the ball and were putting the Western defence under pressure, but couldn’t find a way through.
Canberra came out firing in the second half, with the introduction of Michelle Heyman and Vesna Milivoejvic providing a much need boost to the side.
It paid off as Deven Jackson pulled one back. Receiving the ball from out wide, Jackson took a touch before launching the ball towards goal, with Kathrine Larsen in goal for Western unable to do anything about it.
Despite looking the better of the two sides through the second half, Canberra would find themselves at the wrong end of a three-goal deficit, as Keane completed her hattrick in the 64th minute.
Canberra would throw everything at the home side in the final 25 minutes of the game. Jackon had a chance to score a second stunning goal of the afternoon, but was denied by an equally good save from Larsen.
Heyman showed her class in constantly threatening the defence, and would find the back of the net deep into stoppage time, with a quality strike into the top right corner.
Despite the fight back in the second half, it wasn’t to be for Canberra United, as the home side took the points. Final score 4-2 in favour of Western United.
Canberra United are back in action at McKellar Park on March 9, taking on Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 19.
