2008–09 Canberra United FC (W-League) season

The 2008–09 season is Canberra United's first season of football (soccer) in Australia, and competed in the 2008–09 W-League season.

Canberra United FC
2008–09 season
ChairmanKate Lundy
ManagerRobbie Hooker
W-League3rd
FinalsRunner-up
Top goalscorerCaitlin Munoz (4 Goals)

Season

The first announcement of the club came in July 2008, coinciding with the establishment of the new W-League. The formation of the new club presented a unique situation in the league, that it was not associated with an established A-League side. In August, Canberra appointed Matildas assistant coach Robbie Hooker as coach for the inaugural season, and ACT Senator Kate Lundy as club chair.[1][2] United also announced its first key signing in local Canberran and Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams. Hooker made a number of key signings in the first registration window, also securing Caitlin Munoz, Amy Chapman, Grace Gill-McGrath, Hayley Crawford, Rhian Davies, Thea Slatyer for the inaugural season. The squad was further expanded in the lead up to the first round, signing on a number of players from the ACT and Southern NSW, and also signing Sasha McDonnell and Kara Mowbray from Queensland. The final squad presented significant strength on paper, boasting eight full internationals and a further four Young Matildas.

United started the season steadily, alternating losses and wins in the opening rounds - including a win over eventual Premiers Queensland Roar. Scoring came with some difficulty for the side, with four goals in their opening first five matches. Influencing this record was an injury to striker Caitlin Munoz in Round 1, keeping her sidelined for a number of weeks. Munoz's return to the side in Round 6 immediately lifted the scoring rate, contributing four goals in the last five rounds. Despite early losses, Canberra were unbeaten in the last seven rounds of the competition, achieving a third placed finish with a record of four wins, four draws and two losses. Canberra's strength throughout the season has been in defence, drawn from a number of experienced players. In front of a dependable Williams in goal, a defensive backline led by Thea Slatyer and captain Ellie Brush frustrated opposition and ensured the second-best defensive record in the competition, bettered only by Premiers Queensland.

United won their away semi-final against Newcastle Jets,[3] and progressed to the inaugural final, where they were defeated by Queensland Roar.

Fixtures
RoundDateOpponentH/AScoreCU ScorersStadiumCrowd
1 26 October 2008Newcastle Jets W-LeagueAL 1-2McDonnell 2'Wanderers Oval1069[4]
2 1 November 2008Queensland Roar W-LeagueAW 1-0Mowbray 16'
McDonnell Yellow card 56'		Perry Park610[5]
3 9 November 2008Central Coast Mariners W-LeagueHL 1-2Brush 51' (pen), Yellow card 61'
Mowbray Yellow card 64'
Maciejewski Yellow card 90'		Belconnen Soccer Centre1637[6]
4 15 November 2008Melbourne Victory W-LeagueAW 1-0McDonnell 24'
Maciejewski Yellow card 74'		Bob Jane Stadium700[7]
5 22 November 2008Adelaide United W-LeagueHD 0-0Slatyer Red card 9'
Studman Yellow card 22'
McDonnell Yellow card 62'
Maciejewski Yellow card 86' 		Belconnen Soccer Centre804[8]
6 29 November 2008Perth Glory W-LeagueAD 2-2N.Sykes Yellow card 28'
Kara Mowbray Yellow card 41'
Munoz 81', Yellow card 83'
A.Sykes 89'		Members Equity Stadium479[9]
7 6 December 2008Sydney FC W-LeagueHD 1-1Munoz 37'
Maciejewski Yellow card 59'
Slatyer Yellow card 78'		Belconnen Soccer Centre840[10]
8 13 December 2008Central Coast Mariners W-LeagueAW 3-0Brush 21'
Maciejewski Yellow card 60'
Crawford 72'
Munoz 80'		Parramatta Stadium300
9 20 December 2008Melbourne Victory W-LeagueHW 3-2Brush 35'
Davies Yellow card 37'
Mowbray 83'
Chapman Yellow card 75', 90+3'		Belconnen Soccer Centre1152[11]
10 27 December 2008Queensland Roar W-LeagueHD 1-1Crawford Yellow card 19'
Munoz 66'		Belconnen Soccer Centre712[12]
SF 10 January 2009Newcastle Jets W-LeagueAW 1-0Mowbray 26'EnergyAustralia Stadium2289
F 17 January 2009Queensland Roar W-LeagueAL 0-2-Ballymore Stadium4554

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Queensland Roar (C) 10 8 1 1 27 7 +20 25 Qualification to Finals series
2 Newcastle Jets 10 5 2 3 17 12 +5 17
3 Canberra United 10 4 4 2 14 10 +4 16
4 Sydney FC 10 4 2 4 15 12 +3 14
5 Melbourne Victory 10 4 0 6 13 13 0 12
6 Central Coast Mariners 10 4 0 6 15 20 −5 12
7 Perth Glory 10 3 2 5 14 24 −10 11
8 Adelaide United 10 2 1 7 11 28 −17 7
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

Players
Name and position No Joined in Former team Birth date Citizenship
Goalkeepers
Lydia Williams12008Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1988-05-13) 13 May 1988Australia
Maja Blasch202008Australia Canberra City SC (1990-06-19) 19 June 1990Australia
Defenders
Ellie Brush (c)72008Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1988-08-19) 19 August 1988Australia
Rhian Davies22008Australia NSW Institute of Sport (1981-01-05) 5 January 1981Australia
Grace Gill-McGrath92008Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1989-06-27) 27 June 1989Australia
Rebecca Kiting82008Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1991-05-08) 8 May 1991Australia
Thea Slatyer (vc)132008Australia NSW Institute of Sport (1983-02-02) 2 February 1983Australia
Bronwyn Studman42008Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1992-03-24) 24 March 1992Australia
Snez Veljanovska162008Australia ACT Academy of Sport(age 20)Australia
Christine Walters172008Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1991-06-17) 17 June 1991Australia
Midfielders
Lucy Allan182008Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1991-06-30) 30 June 1991Australia
Jennifer Bisset192008Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1992-01-28) 28 January 1992Australia
Cian Maciejewski112008Australia Belwest Foxes (1987-06-14) 14 June 1987Australia
Kara Mowbray122008Australia Queensland Lions (1985-05-07) 7 May 1985Australia
Nicole Sykes152008Australia Western NSW Panthers FC (1991-12-15) 15 December 1991Australia
Forwards
Amy Chapman32008Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1987-12-02) 2 December 1987Australia
Hayley Crawford102008Australia NSW Institute of Sport (1984-03-27) 27 March 1984Australia
Sasha McDonnell52008Australia Queensland Lions (1987-01-12) 12 January 1987Australia
Caitlin Munoz62008United States Pali Blues (1983-10-04) 4 October 1983Australia
Ashleigh Sykes142008Australia Western NSW Panthers FC (1991-12-15) 15 December 1991Australia

Short-term signings
Player Team Start Date End Date Reason
Australia Ellie Raymond ACTAS 29 October 2008 6 November 2008 Cover for Ashleigh Sykes while on international duty[13]
Australia Sophie Kochinos ACTAS 29 October 2008 6 November 2008 Cover for Christine Walters while on international duty[13]
Australia Michaela Day Belwest Foxes 29 October 2008 6 November 2008 Cover for Bronwyn Studman while on international duty[13]

References
  1. "Canberra United appoint Chair and Head Coach". Capital Football. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  2. Sherwood, M (28 July 2008). "Canberras best players on national stage". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  3. Smith, P (10 January 2009). "Canberra into Westfield W-League final". A-League.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  4. "Match Report: Canberra Shot Down By Jets". Canberra United FC. 26 October 2008. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
  5. "Match Report: Canberra claims gutsy win". W-League. 1 November 2008. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
  6. "Match Report: Canberra Suffers Case of Deja-Vu". Canberra United FC. 9 November 2008. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  7. "Match Report: Canberra United Victorious in Melbourne". Canberra United FC. 16 November 2008. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  8. "Match Report: Canberra United Claims First Point at Home". Canberra United FC. 22 November 2008. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  9. "Glory girls denied by late burst". Perth Glory FC. 29 November 2008. Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  10. Smith, P (6 December 2008). "Canberra and Sydney share the spoils". A-League. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  11. MERRYN SHERWOOD (21 December 2008). "Chapman kicks a late winner". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  12. "Match Report:Canberra Extend Unbeaten Streak to Seven". Canberra United FC. 27 December 2008. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  13. Gottaas, C (29 October 2008). "Canberra United gets a top up". Canberra United FC. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
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