Gungahlin United secured a semi-final place in the Federation Cup with an, ultimately comfortable, 6-1 win over ANU WFC in the Quarter Final at Gungahlin Enclosed but needed to come from behind to do so after falling behind early on.
The victory means the Gunners can sit back and watch the outcome of the last Quarter Final clash as they await the winners of the Canberra Olympic and Canberra Croatia match which is scheduled Wednesday evening at the Australian Institute of Sport.
ANU WFC had taken the lead in the opening NPL match against Canberra United Academy at Hawker Football Centre on the weekend when Roxie Swart netted, and did the same here, the University striker finding a way past home goalkeeper Kailey Tonini after only six minutes had elapsed.
But the Gunners had a response, and then some, as they struck twice within a minute just before the half-hour to turn the match on its head. Stella De Marco found the equaliser in the 28th minute, Darby Whitely putting her team in front only moments later.
However, it was a three-goal burst in the space of four minutes in the second half that truly ended the match as a contest, the Gunners finally shaking off the challenge of ANU WFC with a treble strike that finally sunk the outsiders.
Whiteley started the goal-spree, hitting her second goal of the match nine minutes into the second-half, quickly followed sixty seconds later by a fourth goal of the match for Gunners struck by Sharon Chao. Ginger Oliver completed the quickfire scoring sequence three minutes later.
ANU WFC were clearly shaken, but recovered well and kept battling to the end, only to concede a further goal as Madeleine Perceval completed the evening’s scoring with the Gunners sixth.
RESULT
Gungahlin United 6 (S. De Marco 28’, Whiteley 29’, 54’, Chao 55’, Oliver 58’, Perceval 74’) ANU WFC 1 (Swart 6’)