Canberra United 2-1 Western United
by Jonathon Hagger (11/1/25)
Above: Catherine Zimmerman (pale green shirt), who put Western United ahead at Canberra today, shields the ball at McKellar Park. Photo: Western United.
Canberra United came from behind to record an excellent win over Western United at McKellar Park today.
Coming into the match both sides had mixed results in their previous matches. However, having the big boost of playing at McKellar Park worked a treat for Canberra as their 12th player, their fans, lifted their side to a well earned win over quality opponents. The domination of the Canberra United midfield in the first half and the quality of effort put in by Western United made for a thoroughly enjoyable match.
The nerves from each team were on display early as the players attempted to settle into a rhythm of play. The opening minutes saw Western United employ a high press which unsettled the Canberra defenders but not enough for a goal to be scored.
Neither team were able to assert any kind of ascendency and a majority of the play saw each teams midfield searching for ways to breach the oppositions lines. Well placed long ball deliveries, putting the strikers into open space, were unable to be converted.
An unfortunate bounce of the ball for Canberra inside the 18-yard box resulted in Chloe Logarzo taking possession of the ball and moving to her left. A tidy through ball to the feet of Zimmerman was converted into the opening goal after a lovely step to the left around her defender and clean shot into the net.
Michelle Heyman was gifted the first chance of scoring for Canberra off a lovely chip pass from the midfielder Emma Robers, which landed at the feet of the unmarked Matildas striker, but the angle of the shot was too tight to get the ball past the fingertips of the Western goalkeeper.
In the 21st minute, Canberra played the ball in a diagonal direction that crossed from one sideline to the other reaching Hayley Taylor-Young on the edge of the goal area. A crafty attempt at goal was blocked but went on to hit the Western defender, Claudia Mihocic, and crossed the white paint for an own goal.
Interestingly, Western United settled into defensive mode for long periods of the first half, thereby gifting Canberra a lot of time and open space to work with. Coupled with the home side applying one-on-one pressure in player marking, Western’s attacking strategies were nullified.
Besides the first goal going to Western United, a majority of the half was dominated by the Canberra midfield. Could Kat Smith, give her team the right encouragement at halftime to secure a win?
The second half started in a rush with the visitors playing the opening minutes with far more authority and direction. But it was Canberra who would strike first, against the run of play, off a wonder strike by Sofia Christopherson, who was left unmarked on the left-hand side of the Western goal area and turned the ball into the net.
Going behind seemed to spark the Western side into life. Increased time in possession, more accurate passing and building up their attack more constructively, built a strong foundation for the visitors to launch an all out offensive.
The change of momentum in Western’s favour required the Canberra defenders to become more involved and it was Liz Anton who repeatedly swept offensive plays clear of danger.
A memorable moment for 21-year-old Canberra attacker Tianah Miro then followed as she made her A-League Women debut, replacing her captain Heyman, making it an afternoon for her and her family to remember.
Repeated attacking forays into the Canberra half came up empty for Western despite their desperation to score again. Not all of the Victoria side’s shots on goals were on target or overly threatening with Sally James, the Canberra goalkeeper, easily collecting the ball.
As the clock ticked into the beginning of five minutes of stoppage time, Western heard the message loud and clear that it would be now or never if they wanted to secure a draw.
A shot from Aimee Medwin off a corner delivered by Grace Maher, supplied their final chance, but the shot flew harmlessly over the crossbar. In the end Canberra were able to hold on and secure only their second win at home this season.
Team: CANBERRA UNITED (4-3-3): James, Taylor-Young, Ayson, Anton, Bertolissio, Robers, Malone, Gordon, Stanic-Floody, Heyman, Christopherson. Substitutes: Majstorovic, Murray, Dos Santos, Markovski, Miro.
Scorers: Mihocic (OG) 21′, Christopherson 50′.
WESTERN UNITED (4-3-3): Dall’Oste, Maher, Grove, Mihocic, Sardo, M. Taranto, Logarzo, Roach, Zimmerman, Johnson, Medwin. Substitutes: Lincoln, Dehakiz, A. Taranto, de Domizio, Ibarguen.
Scorer: Zimmerman 15’.
Referee: Rebecca Durcau.
Attendance: 1,766.
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