Canberra United have defeated Melbourne Victory Women 1-0 in their Westfield W-League clash played under lights at Bob Jane Stadium on Saturday.
Canberra United have defeated Melbourne Victory Women 1-0 in their Westfield W-League clash played under lights at Bob Jane Stadium on Saturday.
Sasha McDonnell scored the only goal in the 24th minute after some good work from Ashleigh Sykes although both sides had plenty of chances to find the back of the net.
Canberra almost took the lead in the 11th minute with a brilliant header by Maciejewski causing Barbieri to spill the save, but the Victory defence were there to clear the ball to safety.
Louisa Bisby almost got the home team on the board in the 14th minute. Her shot took a deflection, which was enough to wrong foot Williams, who was helpless in seeing the ball cannon off the post and out to safety.
Canberra scored the eventual match-winning goal in the 24th minute. A brilliant solo run down the left by 16 year-old Ashleigh Sykes saw her run deep into the box before her perfect centre to Sasha McDonnell, who blasted the ball past Barbieri and into the back of the net.
Victory had a good chance to equalise in the 35th minute. After some good lead up play up the ground, the ball found Brittany Timko who released Rebecca Tegg in the box but Williams saw the danger and rushed out off to apply enough pressure to stop Tegg-s run.
Kara Mowbray almost made it 2-0 for the visitors in the 39th minute. She found space running into the box but with only Barbieri to beat, she shot across the face of the goal.
Canberra started the second half trying to kill off the game. They had not managed to score more than one goal in any of their matches. A free on the edge of the box in the 51st minute was the perfect opportunity to do so, but Grace Gill blasted it high and the home team survived.
The visitors did find the back of the net in the 60th minute when Maciejewski chipped the ball to Gill who found the back of the net, but she was judged to have been in an offside position.
As the second half wore on Victory were getting into the game more and in the 68th minute Rebecca Tegg outmuscled Ellie Brush in a contest for a bouncing ball. Tegg, with just Williams to beat at the edge of the box, got under the ball and her shot went over.
In the 84th minute Tegg fell in the box and referee Casey Reibelt pointed to the spot but the Reibelt then spotted the flag of the assistant referee and after discussions with him, the penalty decision was overturned for offside.
Melbourne had its chance to equalise in the 92nd minute when, after a scramble on the edge of the box, the ball spilled loose to Hogben whose shot narrowly missed the post.
Despite Victory-s best efforts Canberra held on for their second win of the season, while Victory suffered their second loss.
Victory coach Matt Shepherd was disappointed his team didn-t respond to Canberra-s physicality.
“It wasn-t our best performance,” he said.
“All credit to Canberra who pressed us from the word go and they didn-t let us get into our rhythm.”
“Canberra is a physical side who are street smart. We have to be able to adapt more quickly when things don-t go our way.”
Canberra coach Robbie Hooker was happy with the result but did not get away from the fact that his side again scored just the one goal.
“We would like more goals (but) it was good to get three points away from home,” he said.
“With a little more composure in the final third, and better decision making, we could have had a couple more goals.”
Melbourne Victory 0
Canberra United 1 (McDonnell 24)
Melbourne Victory Women line-up: 1.Melissa Barbieri (gk) 3.Marlies Oostdam 4.Tal Karp 5.Laura Alleway 6.Maika Ruyter-Hooley 7.Sarah Groenewald (13.Deanna Niceski 85-) 8.Louisa Bisby 9.Rebecca Tegg 11.Brittany Timko 15.Daniela Digiammarco (12.Sophie Hogben 58-) 19.Enza Barilla (18.Ursula Hughson 58-)
Subs not used: 20.Nicole Paul (gk)
Yellow cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Canberra United line-up: 1.Lydia Williams (gk) 3.Amy Chapman 4.Bronwyn Studman 5.Sasha McDonnell (15.Nicole Sykes 92-) 7.Ellie Brush 9.Grace Gill 11.Cian Maciejewski 12.Kara Mowbray 13.Thea Slatyer 14.Ashleigh Sykes (19.Jennifer Bissett 89-) 17.Christine Walters (8.Rebecca Kiting 58-)
Subs not used: 20.Maja Blasch (gk)
Yellow cards: Cian Maciejewski 75-
Red Cards: Nil
