Melbourne Victory has kept its Westfield W-League finals hopes alive with an important 1-0 win over Canberra United at Skilled Stadium.
Striker Jodie Taylor’s fourth goal of the season, coming in the 20th minute, proved the winner on a blustery afternoon in Geelong.
“We’re pleased with the win, it was a close game, particularly towards the end, but at the end of the day we got the three points,” Taylor told ABC TV.
Those three points move Victory up to fourth place on the ladder with 10 points, one clear of Perth Glory, who can regain the spot when they play Sydney FC at 6PR Stadium on Sunday.
While Melbourne was the better side throughout the match, Canberra had a chance to pinch a point in the 90th minute, but Michelle Heyman was unable to get a touch on a searching cross from Tseng Shu-O.
The fact Heyman didn’t was down to Victory No.1 Melissa Barbieri, who put her body on the line to deny the Canberra striker.
Barbieri was certainly the less busy of the two goalkeepers with Canberra custodian Lydia Williams kept on her toes by Victory, pulling off a string of quality saves, most from Taylor-s boot.
The English import worked her socks off, and along with Louisa Bisby proved a constant threat for a resolute Canberra defence.
Teenage right-winger Ashley Brown was another outstanding contributor for Victory, who were also well-served by influential defender Kendall Fletcher and left-back Marlies Oostdam.
Canberra, who remain third on the table on 11 points, enjoyed much better periods of possession during the second-half, but lacked patience going forward.
The majority of United’s goal attempts were hit and hope efforts from outside the box, undoing the good work of defenders Cian Maciejewski and Ellie Brush.
Sally Shipard worked tirelessly in midfield, while Emily Van Egmond was another to impress and Chinese Taipei international Tseng made an impact off the bench.
Next on Canberra-s agenda is a home clash against the Newcastle Jets while Melbourne Victory head to Brisbane to play the Roar.
