Canberra Untied head coach Robbie Hooker has praised his team’s performance in the 3-2 win over the Melbourne Victory on the weekend, securing a semi final berth in the inaugural season of the Westfield W-League.
Canberra Untied head coach Robbie Hooker has praised his team-s performance in the 3-2 win over the Melbourne Victory on the weekend, securing a semi final berth in the inaugural season of the Westfield W-League.
Despite Melbourne leveling the scores twice in the final ten minutes, enough to deflate anyone-s confidence, the Canberra United side was composed enough to score the match winner through Amy Chapman in the 93rd minute.
“It was an all-round team performance, there weren-t too many individual players that stood out for us but certainly at this time of the year those sorts of performances are season changing,” a very pleased Hooker said.
“Had that result gone the other way and the goal not gone in, we would be discussing a cut throat game against Queensland to make the finals so the win has definitely put a different light on things.”
“The last six weeks we-ve played reasonably well and improved slightly every week so it-s really pleasing.”
Composure was Canberra United-s Achilles heel in the first half of the season with goals few and far between, proving to be the team’s worst enemy but six goals in two weeks has breathed new confidence into the winning side.
“It was very pleasing to see the team stick with it,” Hooker said.
“You can-t really win in the first one or two minutes of a match so it-s really important regardless of the score that you keep playing until the final whistle.”
“We kept trying and stuck to the game plan for as long as we could because eventually it will pay off as it did on the weekend.”
“I thought even up to the last ten minutes we were in control of the game and probably should have been a couple further goals ahead but that-s part of football, if you don-t put the ball in the back of the net you leave yourself exposed.”
While initial goals may have been achieved by the club, Hooker firmly believes that his side is capable of giving the semi finals a real shake with a spot in the decider a just reward for his side who-s now six game unbeaten.
“First year in and we-ve made the finals, at the start of the year it was probably an outside goal of ours but we-ve done that so now we look how high we can finish and then obviously try and make the grand final which would be a real bonus for everyone at the club.”
Canberra United-s regular season concludes this weekend with the Queensland Roar visit McKellar Park on Saturday evening as the home side looks to secure a home semi final in Round Ten of the Westfield W-League.
Canberra United v Queensland Roar
Saturday, 27th December 2008
McKellar Park, Canberra
Kickoff: 6:00pm
