REVIEW: LATE HEARTBREAK IN SEASON OPENER

Canberra United’s season opener ends in heartbreak at the hand of the Newcastle Jets at McKellar Park.

Despite the last-minute heartbreak, Canberra was not without their positives. Michelle Heyman has opened her goalscoring tally for season 2025/26, A-League debutants Keira Bobbin and Emma Hawkins had promising moments, and returning player Sasha Grove had Newcastle back peddling for long stretches of the match. 

United dominated possession in the early minutes and were rewarded with the opening goal of the match through captain Michelle Heyman in the 14th minute. Emma Robers perfectly timed pass from the halfway line split the Jets defence and found Heyman, who shrugged off Natasha Prior and nestled her shot past the outstretched leg of Anna Leat. 

The goal stirred the game into life, with chances coming thick and fast at both ends. First through Newcastle forward Josie Allan, who was left unmarked in the six-yard box and allowed to shoot, forcing a reflex save from United keeper Sally James. United then went even closer at the other end, as Heyman’s header was only denied by the woodwork.

Newcastle found their way back into the game in the 33rd minute, when Leat’s long ball from just outside her own box went over the heads of the United backline and fell to the feet of Charlotte Lancaster. Lancaster took a sublime first touch on her left foot to throw off a retreating Grove and fire a shot off her right past a diving James, whose fingertip touch could only deflect the ball onto the post and in.  

With seconds left in the half, United defenders Robers and Tegan Bertolissio clashed heads competing for the same ball, forcing referee Georgia Ghirardello to stop the game to the protests of Melina Ayres who had nothing but green grass between her and the United goal. The collision forced Canberra to replace Bertolissio at the beginning of the second half after suffering a concussion. 

Newcastle came out of the break looking the stronger of the two sides, slowing United’s attack and creating several chances of their own. United were able to wrestle some control back from Newcastle in the final 20 minutes through a string of attacking substitutions. 

Debutant Bobbin looked the most likely to score, finding space with the ball at her feet no fewer than three times in quick succession.

India Breier then broke United hearts in the 87th minute immediately after entering play, scoring the winning goal off a United mistake at the back. An errant backpass allowed Breier to dart in front and intercept, firing her shot past James to put Newcastle up 2-1. 

Bobbin had one final chance for United when she connected with Ava Briedis’s bouncing cross in the six-yard box, but her header sailed over the bar to the sighs of the McKellar Park crowd. Newcastle closed out the finals minutes to record an opening fixture win and take their undefeated streak against Canberra to five matches. 

Canberra United plays Wellington Phoenix on Saturday, November 8th, and returns to McKellar Park on November 22nd against Perth Glory. 

Match Details 

Ninja A-League 2025/26 Season Round 1 

Canberra United 1 (Heyman 14’) Newcastle Jets 2 (Lancaster 33’, Breier 87’)

Half-time: 1-1 

McKellar Park

Sunday 2 November 2025

Referee: Georgia Ghirardello

Attendance: 1248

Canberra United: 1. Sally JAMES (gk), 6. Josie AULICINO, (7. Emma HAWKINS 77’), 8. Sasha GROVE, 10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY, 11. Emma ROBERS, 12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG, (16. Keira BOBBIN 66’), 23. Michelle HEYMAN, 25. Darcey MALONE, 28. Tegan BERTOLISSIO (5. Jazmin WARDLOW 46’), 32. Bethany GORDON, 33. Nanako SASAKI (44. Ava BRIEDIS 86’)

Substitutes not used: 2. Alex MCKENZIE, 18. Coco MAJSTOROVIC (gk), 

Yellow Cards: 

Red Cards:

Newcastle Jets: 24. Anna LEAT (gk), 2. Josie WILSON, 3. Claudia CICCO, 4. Natasha PRIOR, (5. Olivia PAGE 72’), (7. India BREIER 80’), 8. Emma DUNDAS, 10. Elizabeth COPUS-BROWN, 11. Charlotte LANCASTER, 13. Lauren ALLAN, 14. Melina AYRES, 18. Sophie HOBAN, (23. Zoe KARIPIDIS 87’), 26. Josie ALLAN, (44. Kelli BROWN 62’)

Substitutes not used: 12. Georgia RITCHIE (gk), 32. Claire ADAMS

Yellow Cards: DUNDAS

Red Cards:

Words: James Whybrow