Canberra United have recorded a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Adelaide United in the opening fixture of the 2011-12 Westfield W-League season at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Canberra United have recorded a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Adelaide United in the opening fixture of the 2011-12 Westfield W-League season at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Canberra attackers Michelle Heyman and Caitlin Munoz scored two each in a dominant display, while Rachael Quigley was on the scoresheet for the Reds.
It took Canberra only 88 seconds to open their account when Heyman was put through on goal before finishing neatly past Reds’ ‘keeper Kristi Harvey.
Adelaide returned in the 36th, though, Quigley equalised with a looping shot from 12 yards.
However the women from Australia’s capital wrapped up the game with three second-half goals to Munoz in the 60th and 70th minutes, and Heyman in the 82nd, who’s curling left-foot strike, was a particular highlight.
The early goal propelled Canberra who dominated proceedings for the rest of the first-half.
The capital side moved the ball with ease, often flooding forward with a number of attacking options.
Heyman in particular was a constant threat to the Reds defence, and almost grabbed her and the team’s second in the 10th minute, had Reds defender Abby Erceg not made a last-ditch tackle to deny the striker a shot on goal after being put through by Ashleigh Sykes.
Erceg again rescued Adelaide only moments later as the New Zealand representative cleared the ball off the line following a teasing low-cross from Snez Veljanovska that had the Reds’ defence scrambling.
Taryn Hemmings then got in on the act for Canberra with a scintillating run on 20 minutes that saw her take on a number of players before Erceg again was on hand to block the former Boston Breakers midfielder.
Heyman was again a menace to Adelaide’s defence, nicking the ball off the ever-reliable Erceg only to blast over from close range.
Adelaide, however, caught Canberra by surprise when Quigley snatched a goal against the run of play.
Rajcic made a bustling run down the right into the penalty box, holding off Grace Gill before cutting the ball back to Quigley to finish with a looped effort over Lydia Williams.
The Reds began the second-half with spirit but soon folded again to Canberra’s persistent pressure.
Caitlin Munoz scored the first of her two goals on the hour, chipping Reds’ keeper Harvey, after receiving a defence-splitting pass from half-time substitute Sally Shipard.
Shipard was again involved 10 minutes later when she combined with Nicole Sykes and Munoz to get Canberra’s third goal.
The experienced Matilda put a neat through ball to Sykes in behind the Reds defence, crossing the ball to Munoz’s feet at the near post, who then skilfully turned and finished with the help of the far post.
Heyman put the gloss on her outstanding performance and wrapped up the three points for Canberra eight minutes from time with a superb left-foot curling top-corner finish after the 23-year-old had jinxed two Reds defenders with some fancy footwork.
Adelaide United 1 (Quigley 36)
Canberra United 4 (Heyman 2, 82, Munoz 61, 70)
