A brace to Caitlin Munoz has helped Canberra United to a 4-1 victory over the Newcastle Jets in their Westfield W-League clash at Deakin Oval on Saturday.
Despite the five o’clock start, the conditions were hot and even referee Peta McCallum needed a second half substitution, despite a mandatory drinks break in both halves.
Canberra United got off to a flying start with Munoz beating Newcastle keeper Allison Lipsher to a loose cross to flick in a goal in only the third minute of the match.
It may have been Munoz’s day but it will be attacking weapon Michelle Heyman’s 40-metre goal in the 19th minute that the 769 fans will be retelling for the rest of the week. Retrieving a pass a few metres inside the Jets’ half, Heyman curled the ball magically into the top left-hand corner from an amazing angle.
Lipsher may not have been able to stop Heyman’s masterpiece but she was instrumental in preventing several other opportunities, as Canberra launched endless raids on the Newcastle goal.
It was not until the last play of the first half when a cross was fumbled in front of the Canberra goal that Newcastle looked like troubling the scorers. Opportunistic striker Tara Andrews, fresh from four goals last week against Adelaide, was on hand to put away the Jets’ only real chance of the half.
The 2-1 scoreline flattered Newcastle at half-time but they came out after the break determined to punish Canberra for not being further ahead.
The Newcastle backline finally found some cohesion and effectively executed the off-side trap to thwart a number of promising Canberra moves.
At the other end of the field, it was Melissa Feuerriegel who made most headway for the Jets but Canberra held off any charge their North Coast counterparts made.
Neither team could find the spark it needed until the 78th minute when Munoz pounced on a Jets error to blast the ball into the top of the net to register her second goal of the day.
Munoz’s effort gave United the lift they needed and they dominated the remainder of the match. Lipsher made a string of quality saves but could not fend away a wonderful strike from Emily Van Egmond in the 88th minute off the back of some fine creative play from Cian Maciejewski.
Newcastle had a chance to improve the scoreline less than a minute later but Canberra goalkeeper Lydia Williams would not allow it, saving what looked to be a sure-thing from right in front.
Canberra United finished as deserved winners and will relish the opportunity to peg back Sydney FC next week, while Newcastle are left to prepare for the daunting prospect of facing top-of-the-table Brisbane.
Canberra United 4 (Munoz 3, 78, Heyman 19, Van Egmond 88)
Newcastle Jets 1 (Andrews 47)
