At McKellar Park, Canberra: Canberra United 3 (Grace Maher 9’, Michelle Heyman 27’, 53’) Wellington Phoenix 0. HT: 2-0
Wellington Phoenix risk being left behind in the A-League Women after slumping to their fourth straight defeat.
The Phoenix remain rooted at the bottom of the table with zero points after losing 3-0 to the previously winless Canberra United at McKellar Park on Saturday.
Former Matildas striker Michelle Heyman scored a double, both of her goals set up by Serbian international Vesna Milivojević, as Canberra punished the error-ridden Phoenix to reverse the 3-0 result from last season.
All of Canberra’s goals came from Phoenix mistakes. Grace Maher looped the ball over goalkeeper Brianna Edwards to open the scoring with the first real chance of the game in the ninth minute after the Phoenix were unable to clear the ball away, having earlier given away possession in their own half.
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Heyman scored a second in the 23rd minute after Betsy Hassett was muscled off the ball by Maher on halfway.
Maher drove into empty space and played a pass out wide for Milivojević, who slipped through the defence.
Matt Blyth/Getty Images
Phoenix forward Paige Satchell looks on dejected on fulltime.
Milivojević then found Heyman at the back post, making for an easy tap-in for the Canberra skipper.
Canberra’s third in the 53rd minute came from a bad mistake from goalkeeper Edwards, who tried to play out from the back but passed the ball straight to Milivojević.
Milivojević drew in Edwards and produced a clever backheel pass to free Heyman, allowing her finish into an empty net.
Worryingly, the Phoenix have now conceded 12 goals across the first four games, while they have failed to score in back-to-back games.
Chloe Lincoln was largely untroubled in the Canberra goal, as the home team put up 21 shots to the Phoenix’s eight.
The Phoenix’s first real shot on target came in the 89th minute when Michaela Foster tried her luck from long-range.
Their best spell came five minutes after halftime, with crosses from Foster and Paige Satchell finding Ava Pritchard in the box, however the young striker failed to capitalise.
She hooked her first shot wide of the target while the second was cleared off the line by Sasha Grove.
But any hope of a second-half comeback was dashed when Edwards gifted Canberra a third goal.
Matt Blyth/Getty Images
Wellington Phoenix midfielder Betsy Hassett is put under pressure from Canberra United’s Vesna Milivojevic.
Lineup
Brianna Edwards; Claudia Cicco (Saskia Vosper 70’), Mackenzie Barry, Marisa van der Meer, Michaela Foster; Betsy Hassett (Zoe McMeeken 81’), Chloe Knott, Alyssa Whinham (Te Reremoana Walker 59’); Paige Satchell, Ava Pritchard, Emma Rolston (Michaela Robertson 59’).
The Phoenix made just one change with Football Fern Rolston making her debut on the left wing. She replaced Michaela Robertson.
Big moment
Canberra’s ninth minute goal was the earliest the Phoenix had conceded in a game this season and immediately put them on the back foot.
Player of the day
Heyman and Milivojevic were a deadly duo for Canberra, combining on two of their three goals.
Big picture
The return of injured captain and goalkeeper Lily Alfeld can’t come soon enough. The Phoenix will be hoping to have her back when they host Adelaide United in a double header at Sky Stadium next Saturday.
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