It was a case of deja-vu for Canberra United after the locals suffered their second defeat of the season with two goals against the run of play sinking the home side 2-1 against the Central Coast Mariners in front of an amazing crowd at McKellar Park.
It was a case of deja-vu for Canberra United after the locals suffered their second defeat of the season with two goals against the run of play sinking the home side 2-1 against the Central Coast Mariners in front of an amazing crowd at McKellar Park.
Two goals, including a miracle strike, from a Mariners goal sneak Kyah Simon in the second half was enough to break the hearts of the Canberra United outfit despite having one extra player in the second half.
The Mariners came out of the blocks to create a few chances but never really bothered Canberra custodian Lydia Williams.
The home side came closest to securing an early lead when Canberra United striker Sasha McDonnell found herself all alone with Mariners goalkeeper Lisa Hartley but a fantastic save as she came out to cut down the angle kept the visitors in the game.
Canberra United had their second best opportunity five minutes from the break, McDonnell could have been mistaken for seeing deja-vu hen she found herself alone again with Hartley again but another fantastic save denying the speedy striker.
The fixture burst to life in the second half when the Mariners capitalised on a defensive blunder that left Kyah Simon an open goal to give her side the lead after only a minute into the second stanza to break the game open.
Momentum swung in favour of the home side five minutes later when the Mariners shot stopper Lisa Hartley was sent off for denying Canberra United striker Kara Mowbray an obvious goal scoring opportunity only metres from the goal line.
Canberra United captain Ellie Brush stepped up to slot the penalty home only to be made to retake it after player encroached into the 18 yard box prior to the kick.
Second time around Brush calmly slotted the penalty again to level the scores to the delight of the 1637 strong Canberra crowd.
Ten minutes later Amy Chapman nearly gave the locals another chance to celebrate when her in swinging corner beat everyone including replacement keeper Emma-Kate Dewhurst but struck the inside of the far post only to be cleared from the goal line.
Twenty minutes into the second half Simon struck for the second time in the match in a contender for goal of the season.
Simon-s cross finding the back of the net after it drifted inside the far post over the outstretched arms of Williams.
Canberra continued to apply pressure in search for the levelling goal but chances from distance were little challenge for Dewhurst in goal.
Canberra-s best opportunity came in the dying minutes with three consecutive corners had the Mariners scrambling on their goal line but the visitors managed to hold on as the local-s suffer their second defeat of the season.
Canberra-s vice captain Thea Slatyer obviously disappointed with the results but sees there-s some positives to take from the match.
“I guess we-re really disappointed with the result and that we could have done better,” Slatyer said.
“We had everything going for us, we had the opportunities there but we didn-t use those chances which are really critical in games like this and because of that we let our guard down.”
“Having said that, we need to learn from today because it was a harsh lesson.”
Head coach Robbie Hooker was a little more blunt with his assessment of the fixture.
“To be honest, I don-t think we deserved to win but it was certainly a game we didn-t deserve to lose,” Hooker said.
“I think they had zero chances created off their own play and yet they score two goals so it again one of those ones that you-ll look back and wonder how you lost.”
It-s back to the drawing board for Hooker and his Canberra United outfit ahead of their away fixture against the Melbourne Victory next weekend.
“I think we need to work on -how not to concede stupid goals,” Hooker said.
“ We-re creating chances for Sasha [McDonnell] and Kara [Mowbray], I think the keeper made a couple wonderful saves but if they had gone in it-s a different game so that-s certainly an area we can improve on finishing in front of goal.”
Canberra United 1. Lydia WILLIAMS, 3. Amy CHAPMAN, 5. Sasha MCDONNELL, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 8. Rebecca KITING (22. Eleanor RAYMOND 81‘), 9. Grace GILL, 11. Cian MACIEJEWSKI, 12. Kara MOWBRAY, 13. Thea SLATYER, 15. Nicole SYKES (17. Christine WALTERS 81‘), 18. Lucy ALLAN (14. Ashley SYKES 51-)
Subs Not Used: 20. Maja Blasch
Goals: 7. Ellie Brush 51-
Yellow Cards: 7. Ellie Brush 61-, 12. Kara MOWBRAY 64-, 11. Cian MACIEJEWSKI 90-
Red Cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners 20. Lisa HARTLEY, 2. Caitlin COOPER, 3. Lyndsay GLOHE, 4. Rachael DOYLE, 5. Jodie BAIN, 6. Karina ROWETH (15. Elizabeth O‘REILLY 42‘), 7. Teresa POLIAS (1. Emma-Kate DEWHURST 49‘), 8. Renee ROLLASON, 10. Kyah SIMON, 12. Gill FOSTER, 13. Trudy CAMILLERI (11. Stephanie HAIM 85-)
Subs Not Used: 17. Britt SIMMONS
Goals: 10. Kyah SIMON 46-/73-
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: 20. Lisa HARTLEY 48-
Crowd: 1637
