Canberra United missed the chance to go level on points with fourth-placed Melbourne Victory after being held to a 1-1 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers.
Olivia Price opened the scoring for the Wanderers, before Vesna Milivojevic brought the game level with an incredible half-volley at the end of the first-half.
Both sides pushed for a winner, but were unable to find the breakthrough in a tight second-half at Wanderland.
Fifth-placed Canberra are now five games unbeaten and ensured they remain within touching distance of the finals despite being unable to convert one of their many chances to push on from Milivojevic’s strike.
But having already signalled an intention to appeal their points deduction, Canberra are two points behind the defending A-League Women’s champions, who play Melbourne City on Monday.
Furthermore, the team from the nation’s capital will host Victory next Saturday, the first of three-straight games against Victorian opposition to end their regular season.
Meanwhile the Wanderers are officially out of the finals race – residing seven points behind fourth-placed Melbourne Victory with just two games remaining.
Despite the disappointment of her side’s Liberty A-League finals hopes coming to an end, Wanderers coach Kat Smith believes her side has been able to build a platform for future success.
“In the context of [Canberra’s] season, that’s very much a point gained,” Smith said.
“But unfortunately, with the way the season has played out, [poor results in] our first six games had some good results in the middle, but as teams do, when you get to this point of the season you know what really cost you in those earlier games.
“Results are tough to come by but our performances have been getting better and better.
“From our foundation, the growth that we’ve seen makes me really excited about what’s to come in the next couple of games but also what we’ve put in place to get this club back up the top.”
