International break no hindrance as Western rolls on atop A-League Women

The international break was no speedbump for Western United as they won their sixth straight against Canberra United, with Hannah Keane's return to form driving a side hungry for a Premiership onward.

When you’ve been on a run of form as Western United has been in, the international break can sometimes be the last thing that you need; an enforced stoppage in league play snapping a five-game winning run and leaving one vulnerable to crashing back to earth when play resumes. Turns out though, they needn't have worried. 

Not even 15 seconds into what would become a 4-2 win over Canberra United on Friday evening in Caroline Springs, Hannah Keane was driving towards the penalty area and lacing an effort into the bottom corner of the net – scoring the second-fastest goal in the league’s history, behind only Kate Gill’s goal after 13 minutes for Perth in a win over Newcastle in 2013. 

After less than 15 minutes Kat Smith’s side was up by three, Chloe Logarzo striking true from the penalty spot in the tenth minute before placing a ball onto the head of Keane for her brace four minutes later.

Any fears that the Western train would be derailed by the international break were well and truly put to rest, with Keane’s third of the game in the 64th minute dousing any Canberran hopes sparked by Deven Jackson’s 49th-minute goal and rendering Michelle Heyman’s 94th-minute goal a consolation, albeit a spectacular one. 

It was a fitting farewell to City Vista Reserve, with Western’s home now set to shift to their newly opened training centre at Ironbark Fields.

“We had some clear objectives [over the international break] to try and freshen up players,” Smith said post-game. “We probably had to dig a little deeper than I thought we would have in the second half, so credit to Canberra. They had some good additions in that second half bringing on Michelle and Vesna. 

“But again, we're sticking to our structures, despite the goals conceded I think we still created a lot of chances. Those should haves and could haves we'll work on those and make sure we can keep scoreboard pressure on throughout 90 minutes. 

“Our preparation for a game starts the second the last game finishes. So our preparation, the mindset of the players, the winning mentality, the belief in what we're doing, that's days in advance. So when that whistle goes they're pretty switched on, they concentrate, they communicate. They've got clarity on what they want to achieve.”

Indeed, while Canberra would do a good job of fighting back in the second half – boosted by the halftime introductions of Heyman and Vesna Milivojević, who both started on the bench after representing Australia and Serbia midweek –  it was a comprehensive win for the hosts. 

Off the back of their strong opening 45, they would outshoot the visitors 21 (with 11 on target) to 11 (five) and touch the ball 33 times in the opposition penalty area compared to just seven. 

“The last international break, I think we came back a little bit slow,” said Keane. “In this whole two weeks, we've been really focused on keeping the tempo high. We were missing a few players, but we couldn't let that drop our level and training and the intensity was great.

“Sometimes we don't start games as quickly as we would like, it takes a few minutes for us to get warmed up. That was our big focus today, intensity right out of the gate. We're on a good winning streak and we know that it doesn't come easy.”

Beyond being the driving force behind ensuring that United will remain top of the A-League Women heading into the season’s final month, Keane’s haul was notable in it being the first time that a United women’s player had scored a hattrick in their short existence – with the American joining Max Burgess and Lachlan Wales in the club’s record books for most goals in a game. 

After winning a Golden Boot in her first year in the league last campaign, the 30-year-old experienced a somewhat slow start to 2023-24 by her high standards, finding the net just twice in United’s opening 12 games. 

But her side’s return to form and charge up the table has coincided with her finding her goalscoring form (or perhaps the return of her goalscoring form has coincided with her side’s charge up the table), with her hattrick on Friday bringing her up to seven goals in her last five games. 

“It's always tough when you have a good season,” she said. “To follow it with another good season, it's not that easy.  Last season I was kind of the main target player, a lot of balls just fell my way, I was in the right place at the right time. 

“It didn't start like that this season, I think I've had to work a lot harder for the goals but it's just about not overthinking. I still was overthinking in a few situations today but I feel like I'm getting better. 

“The way my teammates push me, help me and congratulate me; if I miss a chance they're just like 'we know you're gonna score the next one. It's all good'. That confidence from them is really amazing.”

With nine now to her name this season, equalling Logarzo for the team lead, Keane now has four games to equal the 13 goals she netted in 2022-23. Her coach, however, is taking plenty of value from her performances even when she’s not banging them in – although that’s welcome as well. 

“Players, especially strikers, there's such a defined measure on their performance,” said Smith. “But for Hannah, the work that she does off the ball and in our defensive structure, the movement that she makes when we're in possession, that's what we look at and that's always been top class. 

“So it's pleasing for her that she gets herself on the score sheet but as a collective, as a team, we know that our game plan might look at other players scoring or getting in positions to contribute to the score line. 

“But Hannah's taking her moments and that's what you want from a striker as well.”