Tara Murray
A final round win wasn’t enough for Western United to secure top spot in the A-League Women’s competition.
United needed a win in the final round and hoped that Sydney FC lost in the final round to secure the premier’s plate.
While United got a confidence boosting win against the Western Sydney Wanderers, Sydney beat the Newcastle Jets, 4-0.
United finished the season on 39 points, one behind Sydney, and with a joint league best 13 wins, beating every team in the competition throughout the season.
For United, the win will help them take momentum into the final series.
United came sharply out of the dressing room to begin the game, immediately showing a heightened urgency and intensity on both sides of the ball.
Angie Beard and Tyla Jay Vlajnic were causing damage down the left-hand side, combining well before Beard was fouled on the edge of the box. Adriana Taranto very nearly found the top corner with the free-kick, brushing the top netting.
It was Vlajnic that ultimately created the opener for United as she whipped an in-swinging corner straight onto Keane’s head and she did the rest with a deft flick over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Beard nearly found the net soon after but Shamiran Khamis was equal to it with an acrobatic save.
United continued in search of further reassurance on the scoreboard but the Wanderers maintained a significant threat going the other way.
United burst out of the blocks yet again from kick-off as Taranto very nearly found the net after 20 seconds, but Khamis was able to reach her shot towards the bottom corner of the goal.
Keane took matters into her own hands again with just 10 minutes gone in the second half.
Seizing on some hesitation from Gemma Ferris at the back, Keane won the ball before leaving her opponents in her wake as she streamed in on goal and finished coolly underneath the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.
That goal stretched Keane’s total to 13 for the season.
Despite a late Wanderers attempt going close, United was able to hold on and win 2-1.
United will face Sydney in the first week of the finals with a grand final spot on the line.
United’s men’s side played out a 3-3 draw with Sydney on Saturday night.
Lachie Wales gave United an early lead before Connor Pain put United back in front after Robert Mak’s equaliser.
Luke Brattan’s own goal early in the second half gave United a two-goal cushion but the hosts brought it back with goals from Diego Caballo and Mak once again.
There were chances at both ends throughout the contest but the points were ultimately shared.
