Michelle Heyman’s 88th-minute goal lifted Canberra United to a shock 2-1 win over second-placed Brisbane Roar in the Ninja A-League.
Canberra emerged from the jaws of defeat at Perry Park, where Heyman’s late winner snapped Canberra’s six-game winless streak on Saturday.
The high-flying Roar looked on track to move to the top of the standings in Round 10 thanks to Laini Freier, who moved to the top of the Golden Boot charts with her seventh goal in three matches after she become the first player in the league’s history to bag back-to-back hat-tricks.
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But Canberra – like they did in the opening round – got the better of Brisbane. Emma Robers equalised in the 81st minute before CommBank Matildas star and A-Leagues legend Heyman completed the comeback seven minutes later.
As a result, Canberra are now eighth in the standings and two points outside the top six, while Brisbane remain three points behind leaders Melbourne City.
Brisbane were in red-hot form entering Saturday’s showdown with Canberra. The Roar had scored 14 goals in their previous two games, having dismantled Newcastle Jets 6-1 and Western United 8-2 – equalling their largest winning margin in Ninja A-league history.
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But Brisbane were largely frustrated by Michelle Heyman’s Canberra at Perry Park.
That was until Laini Freier – playing just her sixth professional match – continued her incredible form with another goal to break the deadlock in the 73rd minute.
Brisbane captain Tameka Yallop danced around in the penalty area and the ball fell to Laini Freier, whose low shot snuck past Canberra goalkeeper Sally James and into the back of the net.
A strong Perry Park crowd were silenced nine minutes from the end, however, when Emma Robers’ long-range strike could not be kept out by Olivia Sekany.
Then in the 88th minute, Heyman got in behind Brisbane’s defence to turn the match on its head with her dramatic late winner after the Roar failed to deal with a long ball.
