Western Sydney Wanderers 4-1 Canberra United.
By Kieran Yap 14/4/23
Above: Holly Caspers (middle) Photo: A-Leagues.
No Sophie Harding? No problem for The Wanderers as Robbie Hookers team defeated Canberra United 4-1 at home in an impressive display.
The result sees Wanderers further secure their finals chances. Western Sydney showed that even without their injured star striker, there is still a path to goal, and Holly Caspers showed the way.
Things looks bleak for the Wanderers in the opening 60 seconds. Michelle Heyman dropped deep, played the ball wide and then finished the move herself with a goal almost instantly after kickoff.
Western Sydney responded immediately through Caspers, the leagues assist leader jumper highest from a corner kick and turned the ball into they net.
Caspers showed her class again to put her team into the lead. After finding herself in a shooting position, she cut the ball across goal for Ella Buchanan to tap in at the far post.
Madison McComansky made it 3-1 before half time with another headed goal from a corner, and Canberra were struggling to defend the repeated attacks.
Caspers brought up her second and the Wanderers fourth with a calm finish just moments after the second half began.
The loss comes in the middle of a tough week for Canberra in an uncertain season. Midweek Michelle Heyman spoke to the Canberra Times about the lack of information available about the clubs future. Under those circumstances it is hard to see the club reaching its full and glorious potential.
There were no signs of distraction on the pitch. They played well when in possession and moved the ball confidently and directly. But we’re not clinical in the final third, while also being unable to stop a rampant Caspers inspired Wanderers.
The absence of Young Matildas trio Sasha Grove, Chloe Lincoln and Teagan Bertolissio was obvious and undeniable, but somehow seemed more of a problem than it has been this past month.
In the end, nothing can be taken away from Western Sydney who were also without crucial defensive midfielder Alexia Apostolakis for the same reason.
Caspers was simply brilliant. She was unstoppable and seemed to make the right decision at every important moment.
The win was Western Sydney’s first in four games, and it was a deserved three points.
Lineups:
Western Sydney Wanderers: Khamis, Matos, Harrison, Bruce, McComansky, Rue, Chessari, Younis, Buchanan, Morris, Caspers. Substitutes Caceras, Breier, Brooking, Abdul Massih, Collins.
Scorers: Caspers 4’ 46’ Buchanan 14’ McComansky 24’
Canberra United: Majstorovic, Christopherson, Ilijoski, McKenzie, Whittall, Murray, Clarke, Flannery, Jackson, Milivojevic, Heyman. Substitutes. Nathan, Piazza, Cameron, McNulty, Ritchie.
Scorer: Heyman
Referee: Kelly Jones
Attendance: TBC
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