Western United have produced a stirring second-half revival to earn a 1-1 A League Women draw away to Canberra.
Playing their 200th ALW game, bottom-of-the-ladder Canberra dominated the first half at McKellar Park, but Western were clearly the better side in the second period.
Adriana Taranto’s 76th-minute close-range strike equalised a goal on the half hour, when Western defender Alana Cerne appeared to put the ball into her own net under pressure from Canberra striker Michelle Heyman.
Western remain sixth and Canberra last, though the latter still have games in hand over most of the teams above them.
The visitors struggled to create chances in the first half as Canberra had the first six shots across the opening 23 minutes.
Three of them were straight at Western goalkeeper Hillary Beall, two from starting debutant and New Zealand international Deven Jackson.
It was a completely different story after half-time.
Canberra goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln made fine saves to deny Taranto and Hannah Keane, with the latter and substitute Keiwa Hieda both missing from close range.
Western had all the best chances as both sides searched for a winner after Taranto’s equaliser.
They had a goal disallowed for offside in the 90th minute, then Jaclyn Sawicki rolled a shot narrowly wide, before Tyla-Jay Vlajnic had a free-kick saved.
Matildas and Western midfielder Chloe Logarzo made her 100th ALW appearance, but wasn’t able to score for a third successive game.
