A last second goal from Canberra defender Amy Chapman broke the hearts of the strong Melbourne Victory team at McKellar Park in Canberra. Having forced their way back into the game twice equalising, Chapman’s left foot shot meant that Melbourne still had some work to do to make the finals.
A last second goal from Canberra defender Amy Chapman broke the hearts of the strong Melbourne Victory team at McKellar Park in Canberra. Having forced their way back into the game twice equalising, Chapman’s left foot shot meant that Melbourne still had some work to do to make the finals.
The result leaves the Victory precariously placed in 4th, needing a win against the Central Coast Mariners next Saturday afternoon at Parramatta Stadium. With Brittany Timko returning to Canada before Christmas a reshuffle will be needed, and coach Matt Shepherd realises the need to get a favourable result.
Melbourne commenced the game attacking with Rebecca Tegg being the first to provide a challenge for Lydia Williams after only five minutes of the game. The ball initially came from the right where Brittany Timko was causing no end of problems for the Canberra defence.
Canberra survived the early torment, and launched an attack of their own two minutes later where Selin Kuralay was needed at the far post to stop a Ellie Brush header from finding the net.
Melbourne controlled the middle of the park for long periods of the half as Canberra gave cheap possession away on numerous occasions.
The forward forays by Brush were relenting and her strength in the air came to the fore ten minutes from the break. A corner was not dealt with, the ball falling to Canberra captain who used an overhead kick to beat Mellisa Barbieri.
Just before the break some hard work on the edge of the box by Tegg was not rewarded when her fellow strike partner Selin Kurulay sent her shot skimming outside the post.
The second half was nothing but excitement for the large crowd, which included some 30 Victorians who had driven up to Canberra for the game. Canberra came out the better early, but it was Melbourne who scored first.
After Kurulay had seen a shot rebound off the bar a quarter of an hour into the stanza, and a Sarah Groenewald header was saved off the line, the warning signs were there.
With ten minutes left the game erupted. First Groenewald netted following good lead up work on the left and Melbourne had rightly got back into the game. But their enjoyment was short lived as only a minute later, Kara Mowbray converted a one-on-one against Barbieri.
It was two minutes more before the scores were level yet again. With another attack down the right, the Canberra defence were unable to clear and the ball fell to Marlies Oostdam who sent her shot over the Canberra keeper and into the far corner.
A draw would have suited Melbourne but two minutes into time added on, an innocuous cross, come shot from the right deceived Barbieri and her attempt to clear the ball only saw it fall into the net.
Matt Shepherd felt the game was tight throughout, but unfortunately his side let it slip at the end. “We competed well in the midfield, but played a bit too direct and our range was not there.”
“We tended to play a bit better in the second half, when the game opened up a bit,” added Shepherd, who also felt his team will miss the workrate of Timko for next week’s crucial clash.
Still, there were a number of players Shepherd felt did well in this game. “Maika Ruyter-Hooley and Laura Alleway were solid at the back and Megan Archer played a good game in the centre of the park, but the standout was probably Selin Kurulay who was very lively up front and caused problems all day.”
