Adelaide United has kicked off its 2012/13 W-League campaign with an impressive 4-3 victory over newcomers Western Sydney Wanderers.
Adelaide United has kicked off the 2012/13 Westfield W-League campaign with an impressive 4-3 victory over newcomers Western Sydney Wanderers at Burton Park on Saturday.
The Lady Reds were led by a stunning hat-trick from New Zealand international Sarah McLaughlin, who found the back of the net three times in the final quarter-hour to help her side come from 3-1 down and snatch victory.
The home side looked sharp inside the opening few minutes as the Wanderers struggled to get out of their defensive half.
But, with just six minutes on the clock, Servet Uzunlar opened the scoring for the visitors with a long-range looping effort that gave United keeper Kristi Harvey no chance.
A short time later, Uzunlar doubled her side-s advantage with a free kick from distance that again looped over Harvey to make it 2-0.
On the half hour, the Lady Reds pulled one back from the penalty spot with Racheal Quigley converting after Holly Patterson was brought down in the area after dribbling past two defenders.
10 minutes after the restart Western Sydney went 3-1 ahead with Jenna Kingsley finding the back of the net after she was put through one-on-one with Harvey.
The Lady Reds keeper denied Kingsley at the first attempt, but the Wanderers attacker made no mistake in slotting home the rebound.
United looked to be heading for defeat on the opening day of the season before McLaughlin turned on the magic with her hat-trick in the dying stages.
Her first, a contender for goal of the season, arrived in the 77th minute hitting first time from 30 yards a poor clearance out of the Wanderers defense.
Keeper Elizabeth Durack was caught off her line and left with no chance as the ball flew past her.
Two minutes later and McLaughlin equalised for the Lady Reds with an equally impressive finish.
After a neat exchange of passes, Patterson headed the ball down into the path of her team-mate and McLaughlin smashed the half-volley first time into the top corner.
With two minutes remaining, McLaughlin added another for the highlights reel with Patterson again the supplier.
The Kiwi internationals combined again, with Patterson holding the ball up on the byline before cutting it back to McLaughlin, whose first-time curling effort from just inside the area looped over Durack and into the top corner.
The Lady Reds survived an anxious finale with five minutes of injury time added by the referee, claiming all three points.
Match Details
Adelaide United 4 (Quigley 33′, McLaughlin 77’/80’88’)
Western Sydney Wanderers 3 (Uzunlar 6’/21′, Kinsley 54′)
@ Burton Park
