Canberra United are putting the A-League Women's competition on notice as they look to kick off a winning streak on the back of a nail-biting late comeback.
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Canberra were down 3-1 to Brisbane Roar at the 87-minute mark before Grace Maher changed everything. She scored a free kick and set up the equaliser for Holly Caspers in extra time to make it 3-3.
United will now switch their focus to Western Sydney Wanderers on New Year's Day.
"I don't think we've gotten off the right foot as a team losing the first two games. I think that was quite disappointing for the team, as well as Vicki Linton," Caspers said.
"Scoring that goal gave me a lot of confidence in myself and in the team's abilities. Coming back from 3-1 it just shows the fight and determination and resilience that the team has.
"That'll definitely boost the team's confidence going in against Wanderers. We're definitely looking for a win, I think it's about time that we started our winning streak. We've sort of been on the back foot a little bit ... the team really wants to work together well, bring out a win and start moving up the ladder."
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The side sits in eighth position, with one game in hand against Perth Glory.
In addition to the excitement of the equalisation and United securing their first point against Brisbane, Caspers said the team recognised the significance of her scoring her first ALW goal and rallied around her.
"I did not know where to run, I looked like a lost puppy. Honestly, after I scored, watching the replay ... my hand was on my face. I was like, 'Oh my goodness'," she laughed.
"It was a really good early Christmas present for myself.
"Being the equalising goal in injury time, you're not going to have a goal like that very often in your life. So it was a lot of happy feelings and I was smiling all night.
"That cross [from Maher] in to me ... you couldn't ask for anything more as a striker, just straight to your right foot, it was perfect from her. Even the crowd was amazing; you could definitely hear the emotion in the crowd when we got that second and third."
The 21-year-old is making her name for United as an impact player from the bench in her debut ALW season.
She made her debut in round one, coming on to fill the shoes of Michelle Heyman in the forward line. And in round two she came on for Margot Robinne.
Against the Roar she came on for Allira Toby at the 65th minute, before she scored the equaliser some 30 minutes later.
"I think coming off the bench 3-1 down, it's quite intimidating being the player that has to sort of make an impact off the bench on the field ... but it was a lot of emotion and it was so exciting," she said.
"In the last five minutes you could say that our team really pulled it together."
AT A GLANCE
Canberra United's 2021-22 ALW season so far:
- Round 1: Lost to Melbourne City 1-0
- Round 2: Lost to Adelaide United 2-1
- Round 3: Match against Perth Glory postponed to January 5
- Round 4: Drew 3-3 with Brisbane Roar
Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
