Heyman’s hat-trick heroics as Canberra edge Adelaide in seven-goal thriller

John Greco 1609328521,1609328974

An incredible second-half hat-trick from the returning Michelle Heyman has inspired Canberra United to a thrilling come-from-behind 4-3 win over Adelaide United on Wednesday night.

Heyman’s comeback to the Westfield W-League and Canberra United looked like ending in defeat as goals to Maria Jose Rojas and Isabel Hodgson had the Reds 2-0 up at half-time.

But ex-Westfield Matilda Heyman turned the game on it’s head, scoring in the 48^th, 75^th and 93^rd minutes to give the Green Machine a sensational win.

Scores were locked at 2-2 heading into stoppage-time before two goals in two minutes through Laura Hughes and Heyman ensured Canberra would take all three points.

Mallory Weber scored a late stunner but was a mere consolation for Adelaide who will be ruing a lead that they let slip.

While it was heartache for the visitors, it was a memorable night for Heyman (66 goals) who has closed to within four goals of Sam Kerr (70 goals) as the Westfield W-League’s all-time leading scorer.

It was also the fourth time in her Westfield W-League career the 32-year-old has scored a hat-trick, the equal most alongside Kerr and Tameka Yallop.

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Key moments

Reds make dream start

Both sides had early opportunities to take the lead but it was Adelaide who opened the scoring midway through the half.

Chilean international Rojas marked her Reds debut with a goal on the counter attack, finishing off after being released by Fiona Worts.

Just seven minutes later the visitors doubled their advantage, with Hodgson producing a cool finish after a sensational through-ball from Emily Condon.

WATCH: Rojas marks Reds bow with the opener

Heyman hits back with vital double

Canberra needed a fast start to the second half to have any hope and it took Heyman less than three minutes to pull one back.

The prolific attacker raced onto an incisive pass, outsprinting her marker and then coolly slotting the ball past the keeper.

She followed that up with her second 15 minutes from time, capitalising on a defensive error, to set up a grandstand finish.

WATCH: Heyman kick-starts the Canberra comeback

Hughes with the classy chip

As the match ticked over to injury time it seemed the sides would share the points, but Hughes had other ideas.

The classy midfielder skipped past one defender and got to 25 metres out and had the vision to spot the keeper slightly off her line, lobbing the ball over her head and into the net.

A perfectly executed finish!

WATCH: Hughes gives Canberra the lead

Heyman completes her hatty

With time ticking down – and Adelaide chasing the game – Canberra produced a final nail in the visitors’ coffin.

And it was another composed finish by Heyman to complete her treble, dinking the ball over the keeper before running off to celebrate a player-of-the-match performance.

WATCH: Heyman makes points safe with number 3!

Weber stunner too little, too late

To the Reds’ credit they didn’t give up and ended the contest with arguably the goal of the match.

The dangerous Weber jinked her way past a couple of Canberra defenders before curling an incredible shot from well outside the box into the far top corner.

Already a goal of the season contender!

WATCH: Weber wows the crowd with long-range strike