Sydney FC have fumbled their first chance to claim the 2023-24 Liberty A-League Premiership, suffering a shock 1-0 defeat to 11th-placed Canberra United at McKellar Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Canberra striker Michelle Heyman came off the bench to score the only goal of the game in an impressive and resolute performance from the home side to ensure the Premiership race would last until the final day of the season.
The Sky Blues began the afternoon one point clear of second-placed Melbourne City and would have put the Premiership race to bed with a win over Canberra – but the Victorian side still have hope after Wednesday’s surprise result.
Heyman’s 16th goal of the 2023-24 campaign extended her lead in the Golden boot race to four and broke Sam Kerr’s record for the most goal involvements (goals and assists) recorded by any player in a single Liberty A-League season.
Heyman now has 16 goals and six assists to her name this season – a total of 22, eclipsing Kerr’s 21 (17 goals, four assists) recorded at Perth Glory in 2018-19.
Canberra face Brisbane Roar to round out their season on Saturday, March 30 while Sydney FC return home to host bitter rivals Melbourne Victory on Sunday afternoon.
City travel to face Perth Glory in the hours following the Big Blue in Sydney in what promises to be an enthralling end to the race for top spot.
Victory have twice denied Sydney FC silverware in recent seasons, defeating the Sky Blues in both the 2021 and 2022 Liberty A-League Grand Final despite coming into both title fights as the underdog.
To win the Premiership before City take on Perth, Sydney must defeat Melbourne Victory in the Big Blue. A draw or defeat to Victory would leave the door open for City to clinch the Premiers Plate with a win over Glory.
If Sydney lose to Victory and City draw with Perth, the two sides will end the regular season locked on 39 points and the same amount of wins (11), but the Sky Blues would win the Premiership due to a superior goal difference.
Sydney FC dominated Canberra in the first half at McKellar Park, and would have had one hand on the Premiers Plate by the break if not for the sensational glovework of Chloe Lincoln.
The 19-year-old Young Matildas goalkeeper starred with three sensational first-half saves – beginning with a diving effort to tip Cortnee Vine’s close-range shot off the post.
Vine was at it again just before the hour mark when she controlled a deflection off Mackenzie Hawkesby’s corner and fired on goal with her second touch.
The ball fizzed through a sea of bodies but Lincoln kept her eye on the rising strike and showed great composure to claim with two hands.
Hawkesby had the chance to put Sydney in front with a free kick late in the half and the dead ball attempt was on target. Lincoln leapt to her right to prevent the ball from lashing into the back of the net as Canberra saw out the half without the concession of a goal.
Golden Boot leader Michelle Heyman came off the bench for Canberra at half-time, and produced the home side’s best chance of the game just four minutes into the second stanza.
Madelyn Whittall played an inviting cross off the right wing to the front post and Heyman met the ball with a first-time attempt that only just missed the target.
Heyman knocked on the door once, then broke it open in the 56th minute. It was a spillage from Sydney keeper Jada Whyman from Vesna Milivojevic’s initial strike that provided the chance for Heyman to swoop in and score her 16th goal of the season.
Her 22nd goal involvement for the season broke Sam Kerr’s record (21 – 17 goals and four assists in 2018-19) for the most goal contributions (goals and assists) in Liberty A-League history.
Heyman struck the post late in the contest in a wasted chance to ice the result but thanks to the prolific striker’s second-half goal and a goalkeeping masterclass from Lincoln, Canberra went the distance to claim a stunning win in their last home game of the season.
