Adelaide United’s worst start to a W-League season since 2014 continued on Sunday with a 2-1 loss to Canberra
Adelaide United’s W-League season continued on its downward spiral on Sunday after the team fell away late against visiting Canberra United at Marden Sports Complex.
Women's sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Women's sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Hindmarsh set for $3m Women’s World Cup boost
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Adelaide United faces an uphill battle to salvage its floundering W-League season after again coming up empty-handed from a display which promised more.
The Reds lost 2-1 to Canberra United at Marden Sports Complex on Sunday to record their fifth-straight defeat from as many outings this campaign.
Leena Khamis’ cracking first-half strike and Hayley Taylor-Young’s volley after the break effectively settled the contest, which kicked off in thick smoke from the nearby Adelaide Hills bushfires.
Substitute Emily Condon pulled one back in stoppage time for the hosts.
Stream over 50 sports live and on demand with KAYO SPORTS. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly.
But it was too little, too late as Adelaide remained rooted to the bottom of the table with just seven matches remaining.
It might have been a different story had Adelaide capitalised on a first half it dominated in terms of possession (56 per cent) and shots (8-5).
Reds coach Ivan Karlovic made two changes from the side that lost in Brisbane last week, as teenager Charlotte Grant came in for Laura Johns and Chelsie Dawber replaced Isabel Hodgson.
It appeared to spark an immediate response as Mary Fowler expertly found US import Mallory Weber, who fired powerfully at the visitor’s goalkeeper Sham Khamis.
Adelaide came closer to breaking the deadlock moments later, when Fowler rounded Sham Khamis, but had her low finish cleared off the line by Kaleigh Kurtz.
The hosts fell behind against the run of play on nine minutes.
Olivia Price was given time to thread a straight ball through the middle of the Reds’ defence for Leena Khamis to run on to.
The veteran striker steadied before unleashing an unstoppable half-volley from outside the area past a motionless Sarah Willacy.
United remained positive, as the industrious Georgia Campagnale’s menacing cross was tipped away at full stretch by Sham Khamis and Weber cut inside to crack a shot over the bar.
Dawber had a goal-bound finish scrambled away by Price, before chesting centre back Julia Ashley’s brilliant delivery just wide.
Matildas young gun Fowler was a constant threat, as she demonstrated her strength and close control under pressure.
But too often the home side overhit its deliveries into its leading scorer or delayed too long in releasing the ball.
Dawber had another chance early in the second period, when she headed high after being well picked out by Grant’s measured cross.
But Canberra was resolute in defence and gradually wore Adelaide down as the contest progressed.
Karly Roestbakken hit the outside of the post from a tight angle, before Willacy saved superbly from both Taylor-Young and Nikola Orgill.
The Reds’ resistance ran out 12 minutes from time.
United failed to clear a corner from the left and substitute Taylor-Young pounced to volley in from close range.
Condon bundled the ball home three minutes into stoppage, after Sham Khamis had saved her initial effort from Weber’s centre.
But the home side came up short again to extend its worst start to a season since 2014.