Melbourne Victory produced another late fightback to earn a 2-2 draw against Canberra United in the Liberty A-League on Tuesday.
Summary
Playing a sixth game in 19 days, Victory fell two goals behind at Viking Park after strikes from Chelsee Washington and Michelle Heyman.
But Alex Chidiac’s first Victory goal and Tiffany Eliadis’ stoppage-time header saw Victory, which missed a second-half penalty through Maja Markovski, come from behind to earn a point for the second time in a week, having also rallied against Sydney FC.
As it continues to push for a place in the Finals Series, it was a huge comeback by Jeff Hopkins’ side.
Victory goalkeeper Casey Dumont made a comfortable save to keep out a Heyman strike in the sixth minute.
And Victory almost opened the scoring seven minutes later after Paige Zois, making her starting debut, played in Catherine Zimmerman, but the forward’s low strike was well saved by Chloe Lincoln.
Victory went close again in the 18th minute as Lia Privitelli’s header from Courtney Nevin’s corner was cleared off the line.
But Canberra struck twice before half-time.
Washington opened the scoring after Dumont could only parry a Heyman shot, before the latter completed a good team move prior to the break to make it 2-0.
Victory had a great chance to get back into the contest three minutes into the second half when Zimmerman was fouled in the area, but Markovski’s spot-kick was saved by Lincoln.
But the visitor pulled a goal back with nine minutes remaining as Chidiac headed in a cross from Nevin for her first Victory goal.
And a point was secured in additional time thanks to Eliadis, whose looping header from Nevin’s corner found the back of the net.
Key moment
What they said – Chidiac
on the game…
“I think first half we definitely struggled a little bit, it’s the fatigue from back-to-back games, but at half-time we knew we had to come here and get some points. It’s really important when we’re trying to fight for finals so I’m really proud of the girls for giving it everything at the end there to get the point.”
on her header…
“It’s never happened before in my life so I need to see the replay. I still don’t believe it.”
Player in focus
Making her first Liberty A-League start, Zois produced an accomplished display as the deepest player in the Victory midfield.
Implications
Victory sits fourth with two regular-season games remaining, a point behind Adelaide and two clear of Perth Glory.
Result
Liberty A-League 2021/22 Round 8
Canberra United 2 (Chelsee Washington 41′, Michelle Heyman 45+3′)
Melbourne Victory 2 (Alex Chidiac 81′, Tiffany Eliadis 90+1′)
Canberra United: Lincoln (gk); Taylor-Young, Haran, Keir, Ilijoski; Maher, Hughes; Sykes (Robinne 46′), Washington (Toby 64′), Grove; Heyman (c) (Middleton 76′).
Melbourne Victory: Dumont (gk); Doran, Eliadis, Hendrix, Nevin; Zois, Barbieri (Chidiac 65′); Privitelli (c) (Withers 58′), Robers (Markovski 46′), Cooney-Cross, Zimmerman.
Yellow cards: Zois 45′, Middleton 79′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: TBA
Venue: Viking Park
Next up
Victory has to back up again on Saturday, facing Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium.
