Melbourne City stayed top of the Ninja A-League standings after coming from behind to trump Canberra United 4-2 in a match that saw star Holly McNamara make her long-awaited return from injury.
After Michelle Heyman gave Canberra a half-time lead at AAMI Park on Sunday, reigning premiers City turned the screw in the second half with three unanswered goals via Kathryn Harvey and Laura Hughes plus a Maja Markovski own goal.
While City retained top spot, it was McNamara’s comeback after more than a year on the sidelines that caught the eye.
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A third anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury had sidelined the CommBank Matildas forward for 392 days, having suffered the heart-breaking injury in November last year, but the 21-year-old came off the bench in a heart-warming moment in Melbourne, where she nearly scored as her shot hit the post before Leticia McKenna tapped home the rebound after Heyman had reduced the deficit.
“I’ve done both my cruciates and actually the second one is what made me retire,” Matildas great Alicia Ferguson said on Paramount+. “The thought of having to go through rehab for another 9-12 months, I just couldn’t physically or mentally couldn’t put myself through it anymore.
“So for Holly to come back after that third one, that’s a real seminal moment in her career as a footballer. Very rare do you come back from three ACLs.
“Just to hear she’s the most confident in her body as well because that’s part of it too. It’s not just the physicality of it, but the mental side of it.”
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City were forced into some late changes due to illness with Rhianna Pollicina and Shelby McMahon both ruled out as Kathryn Harvey came into the starting XI. Meanwhile, Lourdes Bosch and Emilia Murray were added to the bench alongside returning star Holly McNamara, who was back in the squad following more than a year on the sidelines due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
On the field, City were frustrated by visiting Canberra, who took the lead thanks to legendary striker Heyman in the 12th minute.
Mary Stanic-Floody released the veteran striker, who made no mistake as she powered into the box for her 113th A-Leagues goal before Matildas great Alicia Ferguson described Heyman as the “best one-on-one goalscorer Australia has seen” on Paramount+.
Leticia McKenna and City had a goal disallowed four minute later, while solid defending from Canberra continued to thwart the hosts.
A big chance went begging for Canberra eight minute prior to the interval when Liz Anton’s close-range effort sailed over the crossbar.
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City restored parity three minutes into the second half – Harvey headed the ball into the back of the net following a scramble after Mariana Speckmaier had rattled the woodwork with a thunderous half-volley.
The home side completed their comeback in the 62nd minute when Speckmaier’s header cannoned into Markovski and back into the net.
City created breathing space when Hughes – following her Matildas bow – demonstrated her wonderful vision with a lofted long-range effort over Sally James 13 minutes from the end.
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Heyman setup a grandstand finish when she bagged her second goal of the match during the closing stages, though McKenna’s 93rd-minute goal made sure of the points for City.
