Lucky Queensland?

Queensland Roar may have won the Minor Premiership but they can't beat Canberra United.


They lost at home earlier in the year to United and should have lost tonight.

Ashleigh Sykes was brought down in the second half with United leading 1-0. Casey Dumont the six foot Queensland keeper should have been carded but in keeping with the overall quality of W-League refereeing she stayed on the park and saved the subsequent Ellie Brush penalty.

And what might that mean for the Roar's chances next week.

And indeed Canberra's.

Verdana Popovic scored, an offside goal according to the Canberra players after the game, but in truth the game should have been dead.

Queensland started stronger, playing football from their keeper, passing out from the back. A different style to Canberra but today it was easily thwarted.

Kate McShea and Alicia Ferguson controlled the game early but the Canberra defence held firm and Lydia Williams was rarely tested.

In the second half Hayley Crawford ran the show. Her ball skills, deft passes were a delight to watch. Sasha MCDonnell was withdrawn and Caitlin Munoz dropped deeper.

Suddenly it was all Canberra and when Crawford and Munoz combined around the edge of the dee, Crawford played in Munoz, and Caitlin finished with aplomb for her fourth of the season. The crowd loved it.

Then came the turning point. Again Crawford pulled the strings, gliding past players and making room for a wonderful shot which hit the bar and the ever alert Ashleigh Sykes pounced but was tripped by Dumont.

Late on the Roar kept playing their passing game, it was slow and ineffectual. But from a deep cross Popovic escaped her marker and headed home from close range.

Tameka Butt was tricky, Elise Kellond-Knight worked hard. Claire Polkingthorne was kept busy all afternoon by the pace of Sykes.

For Canberra Bec Kiting, Ellie Brush were strongly supported by Thea Slatyer. Williams was confident in goal. And young players Nicole Sykes, Bronwyn Studman all played their part.

Amy Chapman again tormented the Roar and linked well with Munoz.

This league has enabled many players to reach for the heights, particularly new and younger players.

The Canberra crowd has been the best in the league and over 700 turned up again in atrocious weather.

A great battle and these two sides may well meet again.

The FFA should play final games in Canberra if Canberra get there, for the good of the game:)

Hear Lauren Colthorpe, Lydia Willams, Rhian Davies and Ellie Brush review the game and the season on the Nearpost Tuesday from 6.30pm.