Western United have pulled off a remarkable win over Canberra United, having trailed three times in a dramatic 4-3 win at Ironbark Fields.
Canberra led at 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 thanks to goals from Bethany Gordon, Madison Ayson and Mary Stanic-Floody but time and again, the hosts found the answers.
Keiwa Hieda, Catherine Zimmerman and Sandra Ibarguen scored the equalising goals to set the stage for an 89th-minute winner, forced by Western substitute Kiara Di Domizio off the leg of Canberra defender Ayson for an own goal that handed the hosts all three points.
The seesawing 4-3 win will go down as one of the most memorable results in Western United’s short history as a club as Kat Smith’s side clung onto their spot in the top four.
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Western almost opened the scoring through Aimee Medwin in the seventh minute but the defender’s shot flashed just wide of the post.
Having survived the early threat to their clean sheet, Canberra made Western pay down the other end as Michelle Heyman combined with Bethany Gordon who fired home the first goal of the game, and her first-ever goal for Canberra.
Philippines international Sara Eggesvik did her best to inspire Western back into the contest with a shot from range and the powerful effort had Sally James beaten in Canberra’s goal but the ball flashed just wide of the bottom-left corner.
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The second half began with a flurry of action as Keiwa Hieda brought the home side back on level terms with a fine finish on the half-volley.
Adriana Taranto provided the assist with a pinpoint cross off the left wing and Hieda did the rest, sliding in to divert the ball past James and equalise at 1-1.
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Western enjoyed the majority of possession and dominated the chances through the first 50 minutes in Tarneit, until Canberra found another goal against the run of play to restore their lead at 2-1.
American defender Madison Ayson was the goalscorer with a powerful header diverted back across goal.
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What came next was pure chaos in Tarneit, as Western and Canberra exchanged spectacular goals as the visitors saw their lead vanish before quickly pulling back ahead.
Catherine Zimmerman initially brought Western back level with a venomous strike into the top-right corner.
Less than two minutes later, Mary Stanic-Floody put Canberra back ahead with a strike of equal quality.
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Having suffered repeated crushing blows at the hands of a Canberra side unwilling to give up their lead in Tarneit, Western managed to swing momentum late and surge home in a dramatic finish to proceedings at Ironbark Fields.
Sandra Ibarguen brought Western back on level terms for the third time in the game, latching onto a deflected Grace Maher shot from range to poke the ball past James and equalise at 3-3.
Then, in the 89th minute, Western substitute Kiara Di Domizio forced an own goal off the leg of Canberra’s second goalscorer Ayson as the home side took a 4-3 lead, after trailing on three occasions throughout one of the games of the season.
