REVIEW: UNBEATEN RUN COMES TO AN END IN TENSE CLASH

Canberra United’s seven game unbeaten run has come to an end in a fiery encounter against Wellington Phoenix.

Two late goals sealed the victory for the Phoenix after a late push broke a resilient United defense who had been forced to play the second half down to 10 players after Tegan Bertolisio saw red on the stroke of halftime.  

The windy conditions suited the travelling Phoenix who looked to physically impose themselves from the outset. The physical attitude rubbed off on Canberra who rose to match the Phoenix, creating a fierce, physical contest across the park. 

Bertolissio was awarded the first of many yellow cards in the match for a challenge on Phoenix striker Emma Pijnenburg in the fifth minute. Pijnenburg was soon back to her feet, and almost opened the scoring after narrowly missing a well played Lara Wall ball across the face of the United goal. 

United began showcasing their speed in the final third through Josie Aulicino and Sasha Grove, who both made flashing runs behind the Phoenix defense. Their best chance of the opening minutes came from a Bethany Gordon cross destined for Michelle Heyman, before Phoenix keeper Victoria Esson glanced a finger onto the ball to push it out of Heyman’s reach. 

Heyman was given her chance with her head minutes later, latching onto an Emma Robers corner that forced a goalline clearance from Wall. The ball found its way back to Robers who rolled the ball across the top of the penalty area, which the experienced Heyman expertly left to wrong foot defenders for a rushing Bertolisio, who struck the ball over the crossbar. 

Heyman again seemed destined to score after leaping to reach a Jazmin Wardlow cross that had the Phoenix and Esson scrambling, but her header bounced wide of the right post to spare the Phoenix. 

Lucia Leon almost broke the game open for the Phoenix five minutes before halftime when her pressure on James caused the shot stoppers clearance to deflect towards the United goal. Luckily, the speed had been taken off the ball and it rolled safely across the face for United to clear.

The game was changed on the stroke of halftime when Bertolisio received her second yellow card to be sent off in almost identical fashion to her first, again connecting with a rushing Pijnenburg on the halfway line. 

The Phoenix started the second half with the lion’s share of possession and should have been put ahead by Brooke Nunn eight minutes into the second half. Makala Woods was able to break into the United box and laid off a ball into the path of the rushing Nunn who fired from seven yards out into the side netting.

United then had a flurry of chances against the run of play, the first from a Gordon cross that Heyman could not connect with, before Haley Taylor-Young pounced on a loose touch and drove from the halfway line before being chased down inside the box by Daisy Brazendale to keep the scores locked at 0-0.

The Phoenix finally found the back of the net with four minutes of regular time remaining off the toe of substitute Zoe Benson. Grace Jale drove the ball from halfway and played a pass down the right wing for Nunn, whose cross took a deflection of Elizabeth Anton. James looked to be getting to the bouncing ball first, but Benson pounced and reached a toe out to guide the ball into the bottom right corner. 

Pia Vlok sealed the game for the Phoenix in front of a jubilant travelling crowd with a lifted shot over a retreating James in the 96th minute. 

United will now turn their attention to Friday night’s match against the Brisbane Roar at Spencer Park.