Canberra United extended their unbeaten streak to four games but could only managed another 1-1 draw at home this time against Sydney FC in a thrilling and physical fixture.
Canberra United extended their unbeaten streak to four games but could only managed another 1-1 draw at home this time against Sydney FC in a thrilling and physical fixture.
In an effort to score more goals, Canberra United opted against the classical 4-4-2 formation by playing three upfront, four in the middle and three in defence.
Sydney FC had the first chance through Servet Uzunlar who nearly caught Canberra United custodian Lydia Williams off her line but an outstretched arm palmed the ball over the bar in what-s becoming a trademark save for the Canberra keeper.
In the 30th minute, Westfield W-League-s leader goal scorer Leena Khamis had Sydney FC-s best chance of the first half when the striker found herself one on one with the keeper but Williams charged out and made another great save.
Seven minutes later, Canberra United-s Caitlin Munoz put the home side on the board first with a rocket from 20 metres out left Sydney-s keeper Nikola Dieter no chance of getting a hand on it to the delight of the 840 in attendance.
It didn-t take long for Sydney FC to strike back when defender Rhian Davies took down Sydney-s Nicola Bolger from behind in the box in the shadows of half time.
Jordan Marsh stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the penalty past a Williams diving to her right hand side.
With scores level at half time 1-1, both sides came out firing but it was the visitors who dominated the second half but it was the home side who had the better of the chances.
Ten minutes into the second half, Canberra-s Grace Gill limped off with what-s been initially diagnosed with ankle ligament damage and expected to keep her out of action for about four weeks.
The home side nearly took the lead fifteen minutes into the second half when Ellie Brush pushed the ball out wide to Munoz who played a dangerous ball into the box along the deck but striker Ashleigh Sykes couldn-t redirect the ball towards goal.
Ten minutes later Canberra had another opportunity, when Ashleigh Sykes flicked on a Munoz thrown in across the face of goal but neither Sasha McDonnell and Kara Mowbray could get boot to ball.
With time winding down, Sydney FC had a great chance of their own with ten minutes remaining when Kylie Ledbrook played a ball into Leena Khamis who back heeled to Ledbrook on the penalty spot but Brush slide across to deny the visitors a shot on goal.
Canberra-s last chance came with five minutes to go when a communication breakdown between defenders left Ashleigh Sykes and Caitlin Munoz along with the keeper but both players had eyes for the ball and hit the ground when they collided with each other.
Canberra United-s head coach Robbie Hooker wasn-t pleased with the result but admitted it was a fair result.
“Not pleased, considering that was a game we needed to win to be in with a chance to get a home final,” Hooker said.
“But just the way the game ended up panning out, I think a draw at the end of the day was probably a fair result.”
Hooker admits that the goal of a home semi final is becoming increasingly difficult despite the fact that his side is on a four game undefeated streak.
“If you look at our last four games, a win and three draws, it-s going to mean we are going to have to string together three more wins and go unbeaten for seven weeks now, that-s a big ask,” Hooker said.
“To make a home-semi final, it-s going to be tough.”
The draw sees Canberra United remain in fifth while Sydney FC sit in third with three games remaining in the season.
Canberra United: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS, 2. Rhian DAVIES (12. Kara MOWBRAY 69‘), 3. Amy CHAPMAN (19. Jennifer BISSET 87‘), 5. Sasha MCDONNELL, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 9. Grace GILL (8. Rebecca KITING 57‘), 10. Hayley CRAWFORD, 11. Cian MACIEJEWSKI, 13. Thea SLATYER, 14. Ashleigh SYKES
SUBS NOT USED: Nil
GOALS: 6. Caitlin MUNOZ 37-
YELLOW CARDS: 11. Cian MACIEJEWSKI 59-, 13. Thea SLATYER 78-
RED CARS: Nil
Sydney FC: 20. Nikola DIETER, 3. Danielle BROGAN, 4. Alesha CLIFFORD, 5. Lisa GILBERT, 6. Servet UZUNLAR (13. Loren MAHONEY 86‘), 10. Kylie LEDBROOK, 16. Linda O-NIELL, 17. Danielle SMALL, 18. Nicola BOLGER (15. Jessica SEAMAN 72‘), 19. Leena KHAMIS, 21. Jordan MARSH
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Rachel COOPER, 14. Maggie ELHUSSEINI
GOALS: 21. Jordan MARSH 43-,
YELLOW CARDS: 5. Lisa GILBERT 16-, 16. Linda O-NIELL 21-, 10. Kylie LEDBROOK 89-
RED CARS: Nil
