Canberra United sealed their place in the finals with a narrow 1-0 win over Wellington Phoenix at McKellar Park thanks to a goal from Madison Ayson in a match which celebrated super striker Michelle Heyman’s 200th A-League appearance.
United made one change from the team that had won in Perth, an enforced one at full-back as Sofia Christopherson came in for Tegan Bertolissio, the team continuing with the 4-3-3 formation that Antoni Jagarinec fielded in Western Australia.
On a picture-perfect day for football, Heyman was applauded onto the field through a guard of honour, made up of local youth footballers, and met by former teammate Caitlin Munoz, setting the tone for the afternoon.
Wellington Phoenix went closest early on, clipping the top of the bar in the eighth minute via and Annalie Longo free-kick from out wide, before Lara Wall drilled just wide of the post when the ball broke kindly for her on the edge of the penalty area midway through the half.
United’s best opening came in the 24th minute when Heyman showed her acceleration to burst onto a ball behind the Wellington defence, her low drive superbly saved by Carolina Vilao who stood strong to steer the shot around the post.
However, the reprieve was short-lived. From the resultant corner Emma Robers swung the cross into the box where it was only helped on by Vilao to the back post, Madison Ayson sticking out a leg and volleyed home from close range.
The home side almost doubled their lead five minutes from half-time after a Mary Stanic-Floody cross had causes consternation from Vilao, Darcey Malone rattling a rebound into the side-netting.
Canberra almost struck immediately at the start of the second-half. Good approach work by Maja Markovski ended with Aideen Keane volleying over at the back post when well-placed.
Vilao in the Wellington goal made another stunning stop six minutes into the second half, showing amazing reflexes to turn a Bethany Gordon free-kick that was deflected goalwards over for a corner kick.
James needed to be at her alert best to repel the Phoenix attack, making a smart stop moments after Vilao’s, and then comfortably holding a free-kick from the returning Grace Jale. That spell of away team pressure saw Jagarinec turn to his bench and introduce Alex McKenzie and Holly Murray for Maja Markovski and Stanic-Floody.
There were nervous moments for the home support, but United held on and with Brisbane Roar failing to beat Western Sydney Wanderers, United will play finals football in 2025.
ROUND 22
Sunday 13 April 2025
Canberra United 1 (Ayson 25’) Wellington Phoenix 0
(McKellar Park, Canberra, 15:00)
Canberra United: 1. Sally JAMES, 5. Madison AYSON, 10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY (4. Holly MURRAY 69’), 11. Emma ROBERS, 12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG, 13. Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON, 17. Maja MARKOVSKI (2. Alex MCKENZIE 69’), 21. Aideen KEANE, 23. Michelle HEYMAN (7. Jynaya DOS SANTOS 90+5), 25. Darcey MALONE (9. Ruby NATHAN 90+3’), 32. Bethany GORDON
Substitutes not used: 18. Coco MAJSTOROVIC
