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Canberra United clinch second W-League championship

Roar Guru
22nd December, 2014
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Roar Guru
22nd December, 2014
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What a year it has been for the W-League season, and a fitting finale has seen Canberra United secure the win against premiers Perth Glory.

Before the match, we debated which team had the better preparation for the grand final.

Would Canberra, who had to secure at least a point in the final round and beat Victory away in a 0-0 (5-4) extra-time penalty shootout run out of legs?

Equally, would Perth, who lost the final regular season match but had an easier assignment against Sydney in the semis, be mentally ready for the pressures of the grand final?

In the early goings of the match it was all Canberra United. Grace Maher, aged 15, was making her starting debut but looked like she had 50 starts, rising to the occasion. Steph Ochs opened the scoring with a beautiful strike to the far post at the 20-minute mark.

Both teams then looked to settle, with Perth maintaining possession in their own half without really causing too many problems for the Canberra defence. At half-time Canberra United held a one-goal advantage.

The second half started and both sides looked to step it up another gear. But when a Perth Glory player was brought down just outside the box, captain Collette McCallum curled it around the wall and beat Chantel Jones to level the scores, bringing the home crowd to their feet.

So with the scores level, and both teams looking to attack, none other than Canberra United’s player of the year Ash Sykes stepped up to break the deadlock.

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With a running break down the wing and a neat pinpoint shot around a closing Arnold, Sykes gave Canberra a 2-1 lead.

This goal would set-up a massive five minutes in the game. Within moments, the referee called a foul in the Canberra box and pointed to the spot to give Perth a chance to equalise. But a good piece of goalkeeping saw Jones go to her left, straight into line of Kate Gill’s lob, catching it on the full.

Another push from Canberra saw a cross to a dangerous spot, with Michelle Heyman heading the ball just before Arnold’s gloves to a waiting Ash Sykes, who steered the ball in to give Canberra a 3-1 lead.

The game finished with Sykes going on another run down the wing, and getting brought down in the Perth box for a penalty. Canberra’s Grace Gill stepped up to take the shot, with Perth’s goalkeeper pulling a great save to keep it out.

But it was all for naught as the referee blew full time, and Canberra United secured their second W-League championship.

Final Score: Perth Glory 1-3 Canberra United

Player of the match: Ash Sykes

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Congratulations to Canberra United, and well done Perth Glory who had an outstanding year too. Good luck to all the girls that are playing with the Matildas squad in the World Cup in June.

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