Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Canberra United
By Kieran Yap 3/1/26
Above: Sasha Grove (L) battles with Ella Buchanan Photo: Canberra United
A Mille Bennett goal cancelled out Liz Anton’s early strike to give Western Sydney Wanderers a 1-1 draw with the visiting Canberra United at Wanderers Football Park. The impressive result against the top placed Canberra keeps Western Sydney in the race for finals football, and was one of their bet performances of the season.
Canberra United came into Round 10 in first place on the table and with a game in hand. On current form they were expected to win this game and Liz Anton’s ninth minute goal from a corner gave them the perfect start.
The Wanderers responded with the next few chances through some set pieces of their own, but Canberra’s defence repelled them with little fuss. The visitors almost extended the lead when Hayley Taylor-Young whipped in a cross towards Michelle Heyman, but the Matildas striker’s headed effort was off target.
A flowing move from The Wanderers created a good chance for Talia Younis, but her effort was directly at Sally James despite being well struck from the angle.
Sham Khamis was outstanding in goal for The Wanderers, and produced a remarkable double save to keep the score at 1-0. First she denied Heyman’s half volley from the edge of the box, then somehow smothered the follow up effort from Sasha Grove when a goal looked certain.
On the stroke of half time, James was called into action again. Her athleticism and reflexes were on full display to deny Ena Harada’s deflected shot. Alana Cerne rued missing an easy chance to score from the resulting corner.
Canberra United dominated the opening stages of the second half, but could not find that vital second goal. The ever-dangerous Emma Hawkin’s saw her effort flash across the face of goal, and Danika Matos replied for the home side with a long range curler crashing off the woodwork.
With the game entering the final 30 minute, both coaches began to make changes from the bench. At least one of those would prove decisive. In the 70th minute, Bennett found a surprising amount of space in the Canberra penalty box, and her shot was expertly placed beyond James to level the scores.
The prodigious midfielder contributed at both ends of the pitch with a sliding challenge to deny Bethany Gordon from an almost certain match winner.
The final stages of the match saw both teams press to take all three points, Heyman and Mary Stanic-Floody both had opportunities, and Hawkin’s continued to look ominous, but Khamis and the Wanderers defence were equal to all that was thrown at them in a very encouraging performance.
Canberra United have a bye in Round 12, but will then host this season’s other big improvers in Wellington Phoenix. Western Sydney will look to build on this performance when they travel to play Perth Glory next week.
Lineups: Western Sydney Wanderers (4-2-2-2): Khamis, Matos, Cerne, Ying, Buchanan, Harada, Chessari, Berryhill, Harrison, Younis, Ng-Saad. Substitutes: Cong, S-Eun, Price, Bennett, Hooks, Edwards.
Goals: Bennett 70’
Canberra United (3-5-2): James, Bertolissio, Anton, Robers, Grove, Sasaki, Gordon, Dale, Taylor-Young, Aulicino, Heyman. Substitutes: Hawkins, Malone, Christopherson, Wardlow, Stanic-Floody, Majstorovic.
Goals: Anton 9’
Referee: Page Malau- Aduli
Attendance: 608
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