Canberra United 2–1 Melbourne City
By Ben Gilby.
Defending champions Melbourne City’s disappointing start to the new W League season continued after a 2-1 defeat to a Canberra United side thanks to a stunning strike by Nikki Flannery at the death.
Canberra’s defence almost gifted City a goal in the opening ninety seconds when a back pass from Isabella Foletta from the left wing was poorly dealt with by United keeper Sally James and her weak clearance fell straight to Margot Robinne who hit a first time effort which the home goalkeeper grabbed tightly.
Much of Melbourne City’s early probings came down the left flank, although it lacked the sort of creativity that could unlock the capital city side’s defence.
After six minutes great cross field ball from Isabella Foletta found Nikki Flannery after Michelle Heyman made an outstanding feint to draw attention away from her team-mate. City managed to clear the danger, but it was the beginning of the Lime Green pressure.
Just before the twenty minute mark, great vision from Heyman found Flannery down the left and she got in behind the City defence to fire an effort just wide.
Shortly afterwards, Page Satchell got free along the right and played in a great tempting cross which was fired into the net but the officials adjudged that the ball had gone out before the Kiwi centred the ball.
It was Satchell and Heyman who were behind most of Canberra’s dangerous moves in the first half. Kendall Fletcher’s corner for United saw Heyman crash in a header that was well held by Teagan Micah in the City goal. Satchell then popped up down the middle to use her pace to cause real problems for the defending champions.
Heyman had Matildas defender Jenna McCormick in her back pocket for much of the first half and there would be huge concern amongst Sky Blue ranks about just how much freedom the Canberra star was allowed to have.
Not surprisingly therefore, as the game neared the break, City coach Rado Vidosic’s urgings became ever louder as he was clearly frustrated with his team’s lack of communication up front and their inability to get the ball forward often enough.
Canberra’s dominance of possession continued in the early exchanges after the break. Three minutes into the second stanza a lovely ball from Grace Maher found Michelle Heyman who lofted a floating cross into the box which Teagan Micah grabbed.
Shortly afterwards, 19 year-old Laura Hughes, in her fourth year with Canberra United had her heels clipped by Leah Davidson. Kendall Fletcher dummied to take the set piece which allowed Heyman to hit it and win a corner. From the resulting flag kick, Page Satchell received the ball on the right hand side of the box and played a tempter into the danger area, but no-one could get on the end of it.
Melbourne City then developed their first sustained series of possession and territory either side of the hour mark. A flurry of corners were gained but only one real effort of goal resulted, a drive from the edge of the box from Leah Davidson which 17 year-old Canberra keeper Sally James pushed out well for a corner.
More superb play from Heyman broke the City grip on the game having been played through by Page Satchell. The Canberra legend used her physical presence to win a cheap corner.
City responded and there was another battle between Davidson and James which the home keeper pushed out well for a corner. Hollie Palmer then put an effort wide after being played in by Davidson.
With less than twenty minutes left, Grace Maher and Nikki Flannery teamed up to steal the ball and with Maher then running free down the right, she produced a cross which Micah dealt with.
That was a warning sign and three minutes later, City paid the price for failing to make it count when they had chances. A stunning looped ball from Lauren Keir dropped into the path of Heyman who curled a glorious finish into the top right corner of the net for her fourth goal in two W League games this season,
It took less than four minutes for Melbourne City to respond. Midfielder Sarah Cain, celebrating her 20th birthday, was brought down by Sasha Grove. The resulting free kick was taken by Chinatso Kira and Jenna McCormick got free from Jessika Nash to direct a thumping header past James and into the net.
Laura Hughes created some excellent opportunities for Canberra in the midfield. One such chance found Satchell who put an effort wide.
City had a final opportunity to take the lead when Chinatso Kira then put in Harriet Withers with three minutes to go. She motored past Hayley Taylor-Young and got a shot away which James did well to deal with. The resulting corner bounced off of the cross bar before the hosts cleared.
Melbourne City had certainly looked stronger throughout the second half – and because of that it will be of immense frustration that it was not enough to get even a draw from the match.
Deep into stoppage time at the end of the game, an outstanding piece of skill from Nikki Flannery sealed the win for Canberra. She took possession from a Melbourne City throw in and juggled the ball up before taking it past Teigen Allen and Sarah Cain, turned and then unleashed a glorious drive from well outside the area past a despairing Teagan Micah to seal the win and take Canberra to the top of the W League.
Alex Chidiac and Emma Checker cannot come into the Melbourne City side quickly enough. However, if the Sky Blues can’t pick up a win before they do so, it could start to get tough for City to earn a competitive top four position for finals qualification. Canberra United have shown over the opening two weeks that they could well pose a threat to the top four this season.
Teams: CANBERRA UNITED: James, Foletta, Keir, Nash, Fletcher, Maher, Satchell, Hughes, Flannery, Heyman, Koulizakis. Substitutes: Richards (GK), Rasschaert, Galic, Grove, Taylor-Young.
Scorers: Heyman 73, Flannery 90+3.
MELBOURNE CITY: Micah, Johnson, McCormick, Tumeth, Allen, Vlajnic, Davidson, Cain, Dobson, Palmer, Robinne. Substitutes: Barbieri (GK), Sardo, Muldeary, Kira, Withers.
Scorer: McCormick 77.
Referee: Casey Reibelt.
Attendance: 1,398.
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