Adelaide United Women twice surrendered the lead on its way to a 2-2 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers Women at Marconi Stadium on Sunday.
Chelsie Dawber and captain Dylan Holmes both put the Reds in front in each half of the Round 7 Westfield W-League fixture.
However, on both occasions Sarah Hunter quickly restored parity to complete her brace.
It was a scrappy start to the match as Adelaide struggled to retain possession of the ball and negotiated lengthy spells of Western Sydney pressure.
The Reds finally clicked into gear and began to probe around the Wanderers’ 18-yard box without creating any sightings on goal.
That all changed when a sweeping through ball by Weber over Western Sydney’s defence played in Dawber and she dispatched a clinical finish past the onrushing Sarah Willacy in the 33rd minute to open her account for the season.
María José Rojas thought she had doubled the advantage seven minutes later, but it was ruled out for offside in what looked to be a very close call.
Weber then squandered a golden opportunity with the American unable to keep her close-range, free header down after meeting Dawber’s cross.
The visitors would immediately rue that miss, conceding its maiden first-half goal of the campaign when Hunter turned in Georgia Yeoman-Dale’s low cutback just before half-time.
Adelaide began the second stanza on the back foot and Leena Khamis threatened Sian Fryer-McLaren’s goal on a couple of instances.
Holmes fired Adelaide back into the lead courtesy of a stunning strike, bringing down Emily Condon’s cross on her chest before executing a superb half-volley on 71 minutes.
Adelaide looked set to go on with it in the hope of putting the result beyond doubt.
Although, Hunter had other ideas, scoring a near identical goal from the first-half but only this time the cross came from the right via Teigan Collister.
It was an absorbing finish to the game with both teams mustering chances to score a winner with Adelaide producing the best chance late in stoppage time.
Condon threaded a pass for Rojas who evaded the offside trap though opted for power rather than a deft chip and her shot was denied by Willacy.
For Adelaide, it will feel a case of two points dropped as it hunts an elusive finals appearance.
Team news
Adrian Stenta made one change to his starting line-up with Mallory Weber returning from a hamstring injury in place of Fiona Worts. Meanwhile, Georgia Campagnale became the Reds’ all-time appearances leader with her 67th game for the Club, with Emily Condon moving to equal second with Racheal Quigley on 66 games.
Key moments
33’ | GOAL! Dawber gets on the end of Weber’s aerial ball which catches out the defence and her shot beats Willacy, despite managing to get a glove on it.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6229837017001
40’ | OFFSIDE! Rojas brings down Dawber’s cross and guides her effort into the bottom corner but before she can celebrate the flag is raised.
41’ | CHANCE! The ball falls to Weber at the back post but she cannot get her free header on target following Dawber’s cross.
43’ | GOAL: Yeoman-Dale drives to the byline and her accurate cutback is placed into the far corner by Hunter.
71’ | GOAL! Holmes smashes in a brilliant strike after expertly controlling Condon’s cross.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6229839475001
78’ | GOAL: Hunter has her second when her finish goes underneath Fryer-McLaren.
Match details:
Game date: Sunday, 7 February
Westfield W-League 2020/21 – Round 7
Western Sydney Wanderers Women 2 (Hunter 43’, 78’)
Adelaide United Women 2 (Dawber 33’, Holmes 71’)
Venue: Marconi Stadium
