Canberra United suffered a second straight loss on Thursday as a goal in either half pushed Adelaide United to a 2-0 win at Coopers Stadium.
The hosts had the best of the early going as they looked to build on last weekend’s win against Brisbane and Veronica Latsko had a close range shot blocked by some last-ditch defending eight minutes in.
Ellie Carpenter turned her defender inside-out on the edge of the area but blazed her shot well over and outside of those chances both teams struggled to capitalise in the final third.
Neither side was overly tested at the back and both held strong defensively as the midfield battle wore on, but the Lady Reds took the lead shortly before the half hour mark.
A turnover in Canberra’s attacking third saw Adelaide with time to play out, and a long ball from midfield found Michelle Heyman in space on the right.
She fired in a cross to the middle and Latsko ghosted in between two defenders to scuff home a finish into the bottom corner and give the hosts an important lead.
Adelaide used that goal to get on top and they largely stayed there, holding their one-goal lead as they headed into half time.
The second half began in similar fashion to the first but the hosts were happy to sit back and absorb pressure as Canberra chased the game.
Denise O’Sullivan was excellent through the middle of the park, winning contested balls and distributing wide as the visitors looked to break down the Lady Reds.
As time wore on though chances opened up in transition for Adelaide and Nikola Orgill denied them a golden chance with a well-timed block as the ball came into the area.
Meg McElligott and Olivia Price entered the game late in search of a goal, but it was not to be as the hosts doubled their advantage on the break.
Latsko was set free behind the visiting defence and her initial effort was saved brilliantly by Sham Khamis, only for the ball to ricochet off a defender and straight into the back of the net.
That proved to be the sealer as Adelaide jumped top of the table heading into the rest of the round, while Canberra remain on four points.
Heather Garriock’s side will look to rebound next Sunday, 2nd December when they host Sydney FC at McKellar Park.
