Melbourne Victory Women were eventually beaten by Canberra United in the Ninja A-League on Sunday afternoon.
A 32nd-minute red card shown to defender Claudia Bunge threatened to unravel the Round 15 game plan during the first half for Jeff Hopkins’ team.
But the Girls in Blue, despite being a player lighter, showed real heart and went ahead early in the second period thanks to Kennedy White’s eighth goal of the 2025/26 season.
This advantage would, however, only last 13 minutes. Strikes from Sasha Grove and Mary Stanić-Floody turned the tide ahead of Tegan Bertolissio’s header rounding off the scoring to keep the points in the capital.
Team News
Victory went with an unchanged starting line-up in ACT. The only adjustment came on the bench, where Jessica Young made way for the returning Rhianna Pollicina. Remarkably, the midfielder missed just one round of action to return as a second-half substitute less than a fortnight after surgery on a broken wrist sustained versus Adelaide United.
Match Action
After the match was pushed back a day due to extreme heat in the local area, the visitors were looking to make up for lost time. They duly started brightly, and when Rachel Lowe’s powerful shot could not be held by Sally James, the goalkeeper had to be back up quickly to gather White’s overhead kick on the rebound.
At the other end, Courtney Newbon needed to get her angles right when Michelle Heyman teed up Grove, with the Melbourne netminder gathering the rising effort. 16 minutes in, Newbon was called upon once more, racing off her goalline to deny American midfielder Josie Aulicino from opening the scoring.
The next time Canberra had a sight of goal, moments past the half-hour mark, Victory’s attempts to snuff this out proved far more consequential. Michelle Heyman, released in behind, but still with plenty to do, was nudged over by the recovering Bunge, prompting the referee to issue the Kiwi international a straight red card.
This dismissal forced a small reshuffle, and the versatile Taylor Ray dropped into the middle of defence, but she would play the second half on a tightrope after being booked in stoppage time.
Half-time: Canberra United 0-0 Melbourne Victory
As they had in the opening 45, Victory started the brighter, and it looked for all the world that Holly Furphy’s header, from a Sienna Saveska delivery, would break the deadlock, only for retreating Canberra defenders to mop up.
The scoreline would not remain level for much longer, though, as Hopkins’ side went in front. Kayla Morrison gave White something to work with, and the striker smartly shifted inside before unleashing a shot bound for the top corner.Â
Unfortunately, both the lead and parity would be wiped out as United netted twice in three minutes midway through the half. First, Grove lashed in the second helping of an attack when Aulicino’s shot hit the post. Then substitute Stanić-Floody, from the edge of the box, fired in the go-ahead goal.
In the 75th minute, Canberra added a third. Bertolissio climbed highest and headed home Emma Robers’ searching corner kick to seal a league double for the hosts.
Match Details
Canberra United 3 (GROVE 62, STANIC-FLOODY 63′, BERTOLISSIO 75′)
Melbourne Victory 1 (WHITE 49′)
Canberra United Starting XI: 1. Sally JAMES (GK), 3. Elizabeth ANTON, 6. Josie AULICINO, 7. Emma HAWKINS, 8. Sasha GROVE, 11. Emma ROBERS, 12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG (13. Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON 65′), 23. Michelle HEYMAN (C) (9. Kiara DE DOMIZIO 78′), 28. Tegan BERTOLISSIO (5. Jazmin WARDLOW 78′), 32. Bethany GORDON (25. Darcey MALONE 83′), 33. Nanako SASAKI (10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY 62′).
Substitutes not used: 18. Coco MAJSTOROVIC (GK).
Booking: None.
Melbourne Victory Starting XI: 1. Courtney NEWBON (GK), 18. Kayla MORRISON (C), 3. Claudia BUNGE, 27. Rosie CURTIS (28. Sienna TECHERA 65′), 66. Alana JANCEVSKI, 8. Sienna SAVESKA (10. Rhianna POLLICINA 65′), 6. Taylor RAY, 5. Sofia SAKALIS, 23. Rachel LOWE, 9. Holly FURPHY (7. Ella O’GRADY 76′), 16. Kennedy WHITE.
Substitutes not used: 30: Payton WOODWARD (GK), 4. Chelsea BLISSETT, 81. Grace MAHER.
Booking: BUNGE SENT OFF 32′, RAY 45+1′, SAVESKA 53′, O’GRADY 90+3′
Coming Soon
Round 16’s home clash against Newcastle Jets is being held at the John McEwen Reserve in Shepparton, as part of a special regional football showcase, on Saturday, February 7, kick-off 5pm AEDT.
