Canberra United 2-1 Melbourne City
by Ben Gilby (13/12/25)
Above: Michelle Heyman (facing camera, centre) celebrates her goal that put Canberra United 2-0 up at a wet McKellar Park today. Photo: A-Leagues.
Canberra United extended their winning run to four games, with a second successive victory against a potential title challenger at home in the space of just four days.
Goals from Michelle Heyman and Emma Hawkins in seven second half minutes ensured that the capital city club followed up Wednesday’s impressive 2-0 win over Sydney FC with this success over a City side who were condemned to their first defeat of the season as a consequence, as Holly McNamara’s penalty with 19 minutes remaining eventually counted for nought.
The visitors made a fast start, and came close twice in quick succession with seven minutes on the clock as first McNamara hit a low shot from the edge of the area that bounced back off the left-hand post.
With 24 minutes played, Canberra had their first opportunity of the game when Heyman sent a shot that was heading in all the way before Rebekah Stott got a block in.
Just after the half hour mark, McNamara was causing chaos again and let fly with an effort from around 20 yards, but James held on.
The home side had another half chance before the break with Heyman denied again as Malena Mieres got down to grab the ball.
Canberra started the second half on the front foot with Mieres forced into a save from Hawkins straight from the kick-off as the Canberra defender was played in beautifully with a slide-rule pass that dissected the City back-line. The low shot was dealt with by the diving City keeper.
Canberra took seven minutes of the second half to get the game’s first goal. Tegan Bertolissio chested the ball down right of centre for Nanako Sasaki, stationed just outside the box who lifted a teasing ball in for Hawkins towards the back post to head home.
Just before the hour mark, the hosts doubled their advantage with a sweeping move that went end to end. James made a clearance to Sasaki who was positioned just inside her own half on the right. The former Adelaide United midfielder swept a cross field pass out to Hayley Taylor-Young who played a ball into the box for Heyman to send a classy half volley into the net for her fourth goal of the season.
Canberra could have had a third shortly afterwards as Hawkins’ effort from just outside the box was stopped by Mieres.
Melbourne City were though granted a lifeline with 19 minutes of normal time remaining as Bertolissio brought down Aideen Keane in the area and referee Jack Quartermain pointed to the spot. Up stepped McNamara to dispatch a powerful low shot into the bottom right-hand corner.
The visitors pushed for an equaliser and saw an effort from Karly Roestbakken saved by James, and one from Chinaza Uchendu denied by offside as the game moved towards the last five minutes of regulation time.
Seven minutes into stoppage time saw City’s final chance as Danielle Turner’s effort was blocked by Sofia Christopherson.
This was another hugely impressive outcome for Canberra who showed offensive quality, desire, grit and defensive ability as they confirmed that they will end the weekend top of the ladder.
This was an undoubted set-back for City, and they face a 10 day wait to play their next game – a pre-Christmas derby showdown with Melbourne Victory – by which time, the Sky Blues will have four games in hand on a number of sides in the competition.
Teams: CANBERRA UNITED (4-4-2): James, Grove, Taylor-Young, Hawkins, Bertolissio, Gordon, Sasaki, Anton, Robers, Aulicino, Heyman. Substitutes: Christopherson, Dale, Majstorovic, Malone, Stanic-Floody, Wardlow.
Scorers: Hawkins 52′, Heyman 59′.
MELBOURNE CITY (4-1-4-1): Mieres, Turner, Apostolakis, Stott, Otto, McMahon, Jackson, Butros, Davidson, McKenna, McNamara. Substitutes: Barbieri, Keane, Jugovic, Roestbakken, Uchendu, Wilson.
Scorer: McNamara (pen) 71′.
Referee: Jack Quartermain.
Attendance: TBC.
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