Clinical Wanderers go top with four-goal win over Canberra

Western Sydney Wanderers went top of the Westfield W-League table after a 4-0 win against Canberra United on Thursday night.

The Red and Black broke the deadlock through Kyra Cooney-Cross’ 38th minute header and double their advantage when Denise O’Sullivan fired home her first Westfield W-League goal.

Kristen Hamilton hammered home an emphatic third and Lynn Williams brilliantly finished off a fourth to wrap up a seriously clinical display from the visitors.

It was the Wanderers’ fifth win of the campaign, one which sees the Red and Black leapfrog Melbourne City at the competition summit.

Dean Heffernan’s side entered the McKellar Park riding the high of last Friday’s record-breaking 5-0 Sydney derby win but were nearly brought back down to earth when Elise Thorsnes’ header crashing just wide of the near post midway through the opening stanza.

Both sides traded blows in an exciting, even opening in the nation’s capital and the visitors’ took the lead via a wonderful looping header from Cooney-Cross, who lifted Erica Halloway’s cross over United ‘keeper Sham Khamis for her fourth goal of the campaign.

There were strong signs from Heather Garriock’s Canberra as the hosts hunted an equaliser early in the second but the Wanderers began to assert control and find their groove in the final third.

O’Sullivan saw an effort sail wide and forced a strong parry from Khamis before driving in a fine finish from the edge of the box on 69 minutes, the Irish international and former Canberra midfielder’s maiden strike in Australia.

Hamilton was denied by the post before getting her name on the scoresheet and strike partner Williams added an exclamation mark, finishing beautifully after Khamis had denied her initial effort.

Key moments

Cooney-Cross opens the scoring

The Westfield Young Matilda backed up her Sydney derby double with this peach of a header on 38 minutes.

Halloway’s delivery was superb, Cooney-Cross’ header was executed to perfection and the Wanderers had their first goal in the nation’s capital since 2014.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6118229145001

O’Sullivan haunts Canberra

She worked tirelessly in the Wanderers’ engine room on the night and it was a deserved goal for the Irish international, who represented Canberra with distinction throughout 2018/19.

O’Sullivan took two excellent touches on the edge of the area to advance her position after Canberra’s clearance before lashing a powerful effort that swerved beyond the reach of Khamis and put the visitors in cruise control.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6118234287001