Michelle Heyman has achieved A-Leagues history, becoming the first player to score 100 Liberty A-League goals with her first of two strikes in Canberra United’s 3-1 win over Adelaide United on Saturday evening.
Minutes after Isabel Hodgson gave Adelaide the lead at Leichhardt Oval, Heyman brought up the tonne in the 50th minute with a tidy finish, before scoring a second and her 101st goal with a well-weighted header only one minute later.
Vesna Milivojevic wrapped up the win with a stunning long-range strike, which took her back on top of the Liberty A-League Golden Boot charts, and completed the come-from-behind win for Canberra.
Heyman’s brace not only made her the first player in the competition to reach the tonne, but the fourth in A-Leagues history to do so, following Melbourne City star Jamie Maclaren (151 goals), legendary striker Besart Berisha (142 goals) and Melbourne Victory gun Bruno Fornaroli (101 goals); going level with the latter in the process on the all-time charts.
The win takes Canberra off the foot of the ladder and breathes life into their season heading into the second-half of the season, sitting five points outside the top six with a game-in-hand.
Meanwhile, the Reds have lost their last three games and now sit last, as a result of the defeat.
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The legendary striker almost scored her 100th goal within minutes, after being played one-on-one with Annalee Grove by Nicki Flannery, but Heyman put her effort straight at the Reds goalkeeper.
Adelaide survived the early scare and gained control of the contest for the remainder of the half. Their first real chance on goal came through Alana Jancevski, who did well to create some space inside the box and force a brilliant save from Chloe Lincoln.
Moments later, Mariah Lee had a chance of her own after being teed up by Jancevski, but her strike went straight at Lincoln after some good defence by Sofia Christopherson.
Adrian Stenta’s side went into break with all the momentum and didn’t take a backwards step after half-time, taking the lead within seconds of the restart.
Hannah Blake fed through Lee, who burst down the right-flank and put it on a platter for Hodgson who smashed home the opener.
But Adelaide’s lead only lasted a matter of minutes as Heyman had her moment in the sun.
The Canberra striker pounced on a mistake from Maruschka Waldus and broke in behind the Reds defence, before cooly slotting the ball past Grove to score her historic 100th goal.
And only 86 seconds later, Heyman had her brace.
Milivojevic’s well weighted cross found Heyman, whose looping header back across Grove beat the Reds keeper to give Canberra the lead.
Canberra weren’t satisfied with their one-goal lead and doubled their advantage in the 64th minute through Milivojevic.
The Serbian international gathered the ball on the right flank, before cutting inside and slamming the ball into the back of the net, to score her ninth goal in the competition and first since December 10.
The Heyman and Milivojevic combo continued to cause headaches for the Reds defence, and the former almost had a hat-trick after just putting the Golden Boot leader’s cross wide of the post.
The talking point and the star!
Michelle Heyman has done what no Liberty A-League player has been able to do, after becoming the first to score 100 career goals.
Heyman reached the tonne when she slid home the equaliser for Canberra, before scoring another just over a minute later to give her side the lead and take her tally to 101 goals.
It’s the latest in a string of accomplishments for the A-Leagues legend, whose career started all the way back in the first season of the competition back in 2008, and now, a little over 15 years later, holds the title of having the most appearances and goals in Liberty A-League history.
“In 2008, she was a youngster with a dream, riding the wave of the first season of this competition and now she has conquered it. Michelle Heyman, take a bow,” Taryn Heddo said on commentary, after she scored her 100th goal.
Her former teammate Teresa Polias responded: “We’re witnessing a special, special moment in A-Leagues history,”
“She’s become the greatest goalscorer.
“Despite all those challenges, the lack of resources, short seasons, developing financial side of the game and much more. Despite all of that, she’s continually been able to craft her game, to hone her strengths and absolutely dominate to this level of legend.
“What a player.”
Polias added after her second goal: “Imagine all those kids watching out there today or the young boys and girls, they’ve just witnessed history, a legend.
“It’s almost like that 100th relaxed her and the flood gates have reopened. This is incredible to witness.”
Heyman began her career at Sydney FC, before joining Central Coast Mariners, where she won the Golden Boot and Julie Dolan Medal in 2009.
The following year, she would arrive at Canberra for her first stint, where she won the Liberty A-League double in the 2011-12 season to go with another Golden Boot, then played a part in their Premiership winning season in 2013-14 and Championship winning team the following campaign.
Her solid club form during this time earned her 61 Matildas caps and scored 20 goals, along with being part of their 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, 2014 and 2018 Asian Cup squads and 2016 Olympics team.
Heyman then joined spent a season at Adelaide before announcing her retirement. She soon after returned to football with Canberra and has enjoyed a resurgence, scoring 38 goals in her last three-and-a-half seasons.
She has seven goals alone this season and is firmly in the hunt for a third Golden Boot, sitting two goals behind teammate and leader Vesna Milivojevic (nine goals) and one behind second-placed Sophie Harding (eight goals)
What this means
The win over Adelaide United breathes life into Canberra’s season.
Canberra had gone in unbeaten in their last three games but claimed draws in each of those contests, with the victory over the Reds only their second of the season.
Njegosh Popovich’s side are now off the bottom of the ladder, jumping Adelaide in the process and are back in the hunt for a top six spot heading into the second-half of the season, sitting five points behind sixth-placed Melbourne Victory with a game in hand.
Their next match is in fact against Victory on Saturday January 20, and they would fancy their chances of getting something from this game given Jeff Hopkins’ side are winless in their last four games.
Meanwhile, Adelaide’s difficult season continues as they fell to a third straight defeat.
Yet again, the Reds surrendered a lead on the scoreboard and have now dropped 13 points from winning positions this season.
They head on the road to next face Western United on Sunday January 21.
