Vesna Milivojevic scored a stunning hat-trick but she was left in tears after limping off with a knee injury in Canberra United 5-1 demolition of Brisbane Roar in the Liberty A-League.
Milivojevic scored the first hat-trick of her senior career as Canberra out Brisbane to the sword at McKellar Park on Sunday.
However, the Canberra star had to be substituted moments after completing her treble and taking her 2023-24 tally to a league-high eight goals as an injury overshadowed the incredible performance in the nation’s capital.
Sophia Christopherson and Mary Stanic-Floody were also on target for Canberra, who won for the first time this time season while the Roar crashed to a fifth consecutive game without victory.
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Milivojevic was not called up by Serbia in the latest international window and she looked like a player on a mission on Sunday.
She was the source of Canberra’s opening goal – getting on the end of a Christopherson cross to poke home the sixth-minute opener.
Milivojevic was at the double 12 minutes later in a red-hot start. This time she was the beneficiary of Nickoletta Flannery’s assist.
Canberra took a three-goal lead into the break thanks to Christopherson’s cracker from the edge of the penalty area in the 37th minute.
The home side continued where they left off in the second half and Milivojevic was at the heart of it within two minutes of the restart.
Her brilliant piece of skill – the turn and backheel created space for her teammate to release a cross down the flank. Brisbane goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz made the save from the delivery, but Stanic-Floody pounced on the half-volley to make it 4-0.
Sinking without a trace, the Roar got on the board two minutes later via Sharn Freier’s close-range finish.
Milivojevic completed her hat-trick with 17 minutes remaining in Canberra, where she coolly slotted the ball past Silkowitz.
But her afternoon was cut short after hurting her knee in a tussle with Ayesha Norrie. The attacking midfielder received treatment and looked emotional as she departed on the sidelines, with Michelle Heyman consoling her.
The Talking Point
Canberra will be sweating over the fitness of Milivojevic.
The Golden Boot leader and Julie Dolan Medallist favourite was a handful throughout the contest. She was also all smiles after scoring the first hat-trick of her exciting career.
Canberra snapped a four-match winless streak but it ended in concern when she was forced from the field with an apparent knee injury.
Milivojevic and Roar captain Norrie battled for possession as the latter broke free. However, she went down clutching her knee.
She received treatment on the field but looked visibly upset before being substituted late on. Emotional while walking with a limp on the sidelines, Milivojevic was immediately console by teammate Heyman prior to hobbling down into the change rooms.
The Star
It was all about Milivojevic in the capital.
She made it six goals in just three games amid a sensational start to 2023-24.
Milivojevic has been directly involved in 13 goals in her last seven A-League Women games, scoring 12 and making one assist. It is also her first goal or assist against Brisbane, having not scored or assisted against the Roar in three previous appearances.
What it means
With the one-sided win, Canberra finally celebrated a victory this season.
They remain second from bottom and seven points adrift of the top four, though they have two games in hand ahead of their trip to fourth-placed Melbourne Victory on December 16.
As for the Roar, their slump continues as they now sit seventh and three points outside of the finals positions.
Without a win since October 21, Brisbane host in-form Western Sydney Wanderers on December 17.
