Canberra United were forced to settle for a point in blistering conditions, having a late penalty shout waved away in an end-to-end encounter against Perth Glory. Michelle continued her incredible form, scoring another two goals, taking her tally to 12 for the season.
Canberra started the stronger of the two sides in the sweltering heat, controlling much of the possession for the opening stages and putting the Perth defence under pressure almost instantly. That quality in attack paid off ten minutes in as Michelle Heyman netted her 11th goal of the season.
An incredible passage of play saw Nickoletta Flannery out wide with the ball, squaring it to Heyman who would easily tap home to give Canberra the lead.
Canberra continued to control the game for much of the half, with Deven Jackson and Vesna Milivojevic, along with Heyman and Flannery, causing problems for the Perth defence.
Despite being under incredible pressure, Perth managed to find an equaliser with Susan Phonsongkham scoring for the hosts, ten minutes before the half-time break.
With it looking likely that the scores would be level at the break, Heyman popped up in the box unmarked to do what she does best and regain the lead for Canberra.
Alex McKenzie picked up a loose ball in midfield before launching it up the right flank to Flannery, who once again found an unmarked Heyman in the box, the legendary striker giving Canberra the lead right before the break.
Canberra was straight back into putting on the pressure in the second half, as Heyman picked up where she left off in the first half, immediately causing problems for the hosts.
The encounter opened up a lot more in the second half as both sides battled the heat. Sasha Grove continued her fine form this season, charging up and down the park to cause problems for the hosts at both ends of the park.
Perth had their fair share of chances, with a Hana Lowry freekick just outside the box flashing across goal.
Substitutes were key for both sides, as the introductions of Madelyn Whittall and Lillian Skelly, the latter making her A-Leagues debut, providing an extra element for Canberra in attack late in the game.
Despite holding off Perth’s attacks for the half, a strike from range through Isobel Dalton found the back of the net to level the scores in added time.
With seconds left on the clock, Milivojevic was through on goal and was tripped up in the box, but no penalty was awarded much to the bemusement of the Canberra squad.
That would be the final action of the game, final score being two-all.
