Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Canberra United
by Ryan Miller-Woods (12/3/23)
Above: Western Sydney Wanderers celebrate Olivia Price’s goal, but Canberra United would draw level within 10 minutes. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers.
In an incredibly exciting match that flowed end to end, Western Sydney Wanderers and Canberra United each earned a point – a result that arguably favoured Melbourne Victory more when it comes to the Finals race.
Both goals came in the first half, with Olivia Price putting the home side ahead before Vesna Milivojevic equalised for Canberra United.
It was an event opening, but Canberra came very close to opening the scoring when Kennedy Faulknor played in Milivojevic to run towards goal before slotting a beautiful ball to Nicki Flannery whose first-time shot at goal in the box was saved by Shamiran Khamis.
In the 25th minute, Western Sydney Wanderers went ahead. Sophie Harding chased down a long ball and then hit an inviting cross into the box which found Price who from the far post slotted the ball into the bottom left corner for the opening goal of the match. It was a lead the home side would hold for just 10 minutes.
Canberra responded as Hayley Taylor-Young found Grace Jale who played a one-two with Laura Hughes before making a run and putting in a great cross to Milivojevic on the edge of the box. She chested the ball down and hit a shot into the top-right corner.
The visitors came close just before the break when Wu Chengshu played a one-two around the halfway line with Michelle Heyman whose shot went wide of the goal.
Heyman continued to create in the second half, and just after the hour mark, she started a move by finding Milivojevic on the left side. She crossed the ball to Hughes on the edge of the box whose shot was blocked but fell into the path of Heyman who took a little too much time on the ball allowing Khamis to save.
It was the visitors who had the final chance at the death. Grace Maher’s free-kick came off the bar and no Canberra player could direct it goalwards before Khamis could gather.
Canberra face a huge game next weekend in their battle for the Finals when they host Melbourne Victory at McKellar Park in a game that could be decisive in that race. Western Sydney will host Brisbane Roar, who after their superb win over Western United, are back looking towards a potential top-four place.
Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-1-2-1-2): Khamis, Matos, Steinmetz, Hunt, Abdul Massih, Chessari, Harrison, Gordon, Harding, Price, Bolden. Substitutes: Hristodoulou, Chlastakova, Rue, Caceres, Hall.
Scorer: Price 25′.
CANBERRA UNITED(3-5-1-1): Richards, Ilijoski, Hughes, Wu, Maher, Jale, Taylor-Young, Faulknor, Milivojevic, Flannery, Heyman. Substitutes: Segavcic, Murray, Brush, Middleton, Gett.
Scorers: Milivojevic 35’.
Referee: Lara Lee.
Attendance: 263.
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