Lesser players than Michelle Heyman would have lost their concentration long before Adelaide United’s late equaliser away to Melbourne City.
It was only in the 97th minute that the Westfield Matildas striker was able to find some joy on an otherwise frustrating Saturday evening.
But without her composure in the dying moments, the Reds would likely have left CB Smith Reserve with their first loss of a campaign that instead continues to gather momentum.
REPORT: Drama at the death as unbeaten Adelaide deny City
Heyman’s exceptional decision to dummy Amber Brooks’ pass on the edge of the area crucially sucked two defenders away from Georgia Campagnale, who was free to salvage a 1-1 draw in a match that looked to have slipped away.
It was fewer than 20 minutes earlier that the experienced Heyman had seen a looping header come back off the crossbar.
The Westfield W-League’s all-time leading scorer was frustrated enough by then, having failed to capitalise on a gilt-edged opportunity in the first half.
Yet when it mattered most, the Reds’ star off-season recruit found a way to make a lasting impact when others might have been rushed into an ill-advised shot.
STUNNING!@campagnale_G's first goal in the @WLeague is a 97th minute equaliser. #WLeague #MCYvADL
? @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/EaFkbfiLYb— Westfield W-League (@WLeague) December 1, 2018
Heyman wasn’t the only one to produce a timely redemption act.
Centre-back Brooks, thrown forward on a bid to help rescue a point, certainly made up for giving away the penalty that had allowed Kyah Simon to open the scoring.
Such all-round resilience suggests Ivan Karlovic’s unbeaten Adelaide at the minimum have the mettle required to end the club’s long wait for a maiden Finals Series berth.
