A late goal from Mary Stanic-Floody proved to be the difference on Sunday afternoon as Canberra United sealed a 2-1 win over a Sydney FC side reduced to 10 players at Leichhardt Oval.
There was an unfortunate delay early on in the contest at Leichhardt Oval as the sprinkler system turned itself on and proceeded to soak the players on field before it could be switched off.
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The away side fashioned the first chance of the game in the eighth minute as Sasha Grove curled a right-footed effort towards the bottom corner which was turned round the post by Sydney keeper Heather Hinz.
The breakthrough came in the 13th minute though and it was Grove involved once again, this time charging down the right and sending a ball across the face of goal which was slammed home by Bethany Gordon.
Despite being second best in the contest the home side levelled things up in the 38th minute, and it’s a moment Canberra keeper Sally James won’t want to see again.
Looking to claim a looping Mackenzie Hawkesby freekick into the box, James came for the ball but was beaten to it by Sydney’s Madison Ayson, who’s header bounced into an unguarded net to make it 1-1.
Sydney were dealt a huge blow in the 62nd minute as defender Kirsty Fenton was shown a straight red card for pulling down Matildas star Michelle Heyman who was clear through on goal.
Canberra continued to up the ante as they looked for a late winner and it duly arrived in the 86th minute as Stanic-Floody fired a powerful left-footed effort across Hinz and into the far corner from outside the box.
Hinz then gave away a penalty in the 90th minute as she brought down Sienna Dale when attempting to clear the ball but the American then watched Stanic-Floody slam the resulting spotkick into the foot of the post.
Sydney came close to bagging a dramatic late equaliser in the 95th minute but Skye Halmarick’s powerful effort was well saved by James.
The result leaves Canberra Untied sat third on the ladder and two points behind league leaders Melbourrne City.
As for Sydney FC, the Sky Blues remain dead last on the ladder having suffered their seventh loss of the campaign.
