Adelaide United 4-4 Canberra United
by Ryan Miller-Woods (15/10/23)
Above: Emilia Murray celebrates her sensational equaliser deep into injury time that sealed Adelaide United a point. Photo: Adelaide United.
After an enthralling encounter between Adelaide United and Canberra United with eight goals scored in total, three penalties awarded, and three lead changes, both sides shared the points come the final whistle.
In the seventh minute, Adelaide was awarded a penalty after Hannah Blake was brought down from behind by Tegan Bertolissio in the box. Alana Jancevski from the spot slotted her penalty into the bottom left corner as the hosts opened the scoring.
The Reds’ lead would last just nine minutes as Annalee Grove looked to clear the ball away, her clearance was chased down and blocked by Vesna Milivojevic who seized the opportunity to perfection as with an open net comfortably equalised for Canberra.
At the half-hour mark, it was Adelaide who was stronger in attack from the number of chances they had made, and from their passages of play, however, it was Canberra who took the lead in the two minutes before the break.
It was another unfortunate mistake from Grove via a through ball by Emma Ilijoski went directly into her path but mistimed getting to the ball which was just enough for Michelle Heyman who with no hesitation ran onto it and subsequently scored to ensure that the visitors went into the break ahead.
However, Adrian Stenta’s side weren’t behind for too long as seven minutes into the second half they were awarded another penalty and Mariah Leeblasted her shot into the top left corner as Adelaide equalised..
Nine minutes later, it was Canberra that was awarded a penalty as Nicki Flannery was brought down in the box by Emily Hodgson. Flannery from the spot beautifully placed her shot into the top right corner as Canberra for the second time in the match took the lead.
The run of rapid-fire goals continued as just three minutes later, a great through ball by Jancevski found Hannah Blake outside the box as Blake timed her run into the box where her powerful shot into the top right corner equalised for Adelaide. It was both a great goal and build-up in play where Jancevski was crucial for Blake with the final product.
The avalanche of net busters was not yet finished. Two minutes later, an amazing through ball by Holly Murray found Milivojevic in the box who controlled the ball perfectly down to her feet as she slotted the ball past Grove for her second goal of the match and Canberra’s fourth as yet again they were in the lead for a third time.
In the final minute of regulation time, both sides had a golden opportunity in quick succession. Blake had a great chance for an equaliser from outside the box as her shot just came off the post. Then, Ruby Nathan from a through ball by Heyman hit a shot in the box just sailed past the goal.
Five minutes later, Adelaide found their crucial equaliser as Blake’s through ball found Emilla Murray whose run and eventual shot in the box was deflected off Ilijoski and then went over Lincoln directly into the back of the net for a dramatic equaliser.
Teams: ADELAIDE UNITED (4-3-3): A.Grove, E. Hodgson, Tonkin, Holtz, Tolland, Morgan, Holmes, Taylor, Blake, Jancevski, Lee. Substitutes: Jenkins, Condon, Haffenden, E.Murray, Panagaris.
Scorers: Jancevski (pen) 9’, Lee (pen) 53’, Blake 65’, Murray 90+4’.
CANBERRA UNITED (4-2-3-1): Lincoln, Bertolissio, Ilijoski, Clough, McKenzie, Rojas, Stanic-Floody, S.Grove, Milivojevic, Flannery, Heyman. Substitutes: Majstorovic, H.Murray, Nathan, Jackson, Christopherson.
Scorers: Milivojevic 16’, 67’, Heyman 43’, Flannery (pen) 62’.
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello.
Attendance: 2,834.
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