A hat-trick from star striker Michelle Heyman has seen Canberra United come from behind to beat Perth Glory 3-2 in their Westfield W-League clash at Mackellar Park on Saturday afternoon.
A hat-trick from star striker Michelle Heyman has seen Canberra United come from behind to beat Perth Glory 3-2 in their Westfield W-League clash at Mackellar Park on Saturday afternoon.
After dominating possession but squandering a number of chances, Canberra found themselves one goal down with just 30 minutes remaining.
But they made amends in a stunning 20-minute period that saw Heyman bury three goals as the hosts ran away with the contest.
It was a game where Perth could have stolen the win through capitalising on their limited chances.
The Glory had the first opportunity of the match when an early shot from Elisa D-Ovidio forced a good save from Lydia Williams.
Canberra then started to gain the ascendancy.
Heyman beat Perth goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold to a ball out wide but her cross took a deflection and grazed the cross bar while the hosts had another good chance go begging when Ashleigh Sykes found Arnold with a free shot close to goal.
They were made to pay when a defensive blunder by Caitlin Cooper ended with Emma Kete taking possession, drawing Lydia Williams forward and caressing the ball into the right corner.
Canberra started the second half like they ended the first, deep in attack but lacking composure in front of goal.
Kete had another good chance in the second half, but her deflected shot forced a diving save from Williams and went just wide.
Taryn Hemmings set up a good chance for United, evading a couple of players out wide and putting through a dangerous cross that somehow went across the face and missed everyone.
Canberra drew level in the 64th minute when Perth defender Carys Hawkins misjudged the bounce and allowed the ball to fall for Heyman, who scored off the hands of Arnold.
Moments later they had another when Shipard quickly took a free kick, sending it to Hemmings who crossed in for Heyman to score her second.
Hemmings added her third when Munoz fired at goal but managed to pick out a goal-line defender. However the ball took a fortunate deflection to Heyman who found the back of the net.
With just over a minute in normal time remaining, Marianna Tabain gave Perth a sniff with a well-taken goal but United held on.
Canberra 3 (Heyman 64, 66, 80)
Perth 2 (Kete 21, Tabain 89)
