A second-half strike from Sofia Christopherson fired Canberra United to a 2-1 win over Western United as Antoni Jagarinec’s side recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Western controlled the opening stages and broke the deadlock in the 15th minute; Chloe Logarzo finding Catherine Zimmerman inside the box and the American duly dispatched the ball high into the roof of the net after rolling her defender.
Responding to going behind, Canberra dragged themselves back into the contest and benefitted from a slice of luck as Michelle Heyman’s close-range effort hit Claudia Mihocic before rolling into the empty net to make it 1-1.
Sofia Christopherson then put the home side in the lead in the 50th minute after she cut in from the left and bent an angled right-footed drive beyond the keeper and into the back of the net.
Western pushed for a leveller late in the game but just couldn’t find a way past keeper Sally James despite the fact the keeper appeared to suffer a calf injury late in the game.
The result edged Canberra ahead of Western and into the top six on goal difference after their fourth win of the season.
Western started the brighter of the two sides and were duly rewarded for their early pressure as Zimmerman bagged her second goal of the season.
Picked out by Logarzo inside the box, Zimmerman controlled the ball before rolling her marker and drilling a powerful shot beyond the keeper and into the roof of the net to give her side a deserved lead.
Responding to going behind, Canberra’s first attacking raid came in the 17th minute as Heyman raced onto a through ball and angled a shot towards the far corner which was well saved by Dall’oste.
However, alive as ever inside the box, the veteran forward got on the end of a wicked cross into the area from the right-hand side and while her effort wasn’t the cleanest, it hit Mihocic and bobbled into the back of the net.
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Growing in confidence, Canberra started the second half with a bang and took the lead in the 50th minute after Christopherson curled a right-footed effort beyond the keeper and into the back of the net having cut in from the left.
Western threatened almost immediately at the other end and went close through Logarzo but the midfielder couldn’t convert from close range and subsequently took a heavy knock as she collided with the defender.
Canberra had a good chance to extend their lead in the 74th minute but Christopherson hit her shot straight at Sally James in the Western goal after good work from Heyman inside the box.
Western continued to apply plenty of pressure late on but the home side held firm despite goalkeeper James appearing to suffer a calf injury late in the game.
Not just a potentially crucial result in the race for finals football but the win also sees Canberra bag their first home win since Round 1 of the season.
