After the disappointment of Saturday’s game being postponed due to inclement weather, the Wanderers had to make the long bus trip back to the Capital to again face their rivals Canberra United in another heated encounter.
After the disappointment of Saturday-s game being postponed due to inclement weather, the Wanderers had to make the long bus trip back to the Capital to again face their rivals Canberra United in another heated encounter.
The squad were missing Olivia Kennedy, one of the stalwart defenders of the team and the Wanderers were up against a very pacey, disciplined and desperate Canberra United, who needed to secure three points in order to stay in contention for a finals position.
Buoyed by a large, vocal local crowd and the recent signing of American starlet Kristen Mewis, an in-form Canberra United side defeated the Wanderers 5-0 in a solid display of football finesse.
The Wanderers had the first clear chance in the first half, with striker Catherine Cannuli darting behind the Canberra United defence on several occasions.
On one of these forays Cannuli fed a through ball to Captain Sarah Walsh, whose shot cannoned off the base of the post.
Had this shot rattled the back of the net, it may well have changed the course and final outcome of the game.
Football is really a game of inches.
The skill of Mewis and the pace of Hayley Raso proved to be a formidable combination and a constant threat to the Wanderers defence who were missing one of their fastest defenders.
The Wanderers Icelandic import Thora Helgadottir was steadfast in goals in the opening 30 minutes, denying Raso a very threatening goal-scoring opportunity after she made a clever run in the penalty area.
It was a pin-point corner that gifted Canberra United its first goal, with Raso redeeming herself, delivering a classy close range strike that was neatly placed in the back of the net.
A goal to Canberra United striker Michelle Heyman late in the 44th minute rounded off the goal scoring for the first half.
The Wanderers counter-attacked on every opportunity early in the second half, but on this day it was not meant to be.
In the second half everything that Canberra United turned to gold, and in 74th minute Matilda Caitlin Munoz delivered a speculative free-kick that curled away from Helgadottir and into the back of the net.
An unlucky deflection off Vanessa Hart from a Munoz corner gifted Canberra United their fourth goal.
The impressive Mewis rounded off the scoring in her debut for Canberra United in the 89th minute.
The score line does not reflect the gallant efforts of the Wanderers ladies, who twice in four days had to make the long return bus trip to Canberra.
This week they face their arch cross-city rivals Sydney FC in the final hit-out of the year – a game they are looking forward to with relish.
Please note the updated detials for this weekend’s fixture – Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC Saturday 12 January 2013 10:00 am Campbelltown Stadium
