CANBERRA United's gutsy 1-1 draw with the Central Coast Mariners at Canberra Stadium yesterday came at a high cost with a season-ending knee injury to defender Lin Chiung-Ying.
Lin was stretchered from the ground in the 30th minute and coach Ray Junna confirmed she had ruptured her right anterior cruciate ligament.
Co-captain Ellie Brush injured an ankle and is expected to miss at least a week.
In the first W-League game at Canberra Stadium, United struck early when Ellie Brush converted a penalty in the third minute after striker Ashleigh Sykes was brought down.
The Mariners equalised through American import Kendall Fletcher in the 20th minute, when her flat shot across the face of goal deflected past Canberra United goalkeeper Lydia Williams.
Lin's injury forced a major reshuffle in United's formation with Junna moving Bec Kiting into centre back and pulling Ellyse Perry back from the midfield to cover.
Neither team took control in the second half, before United finished with a flurry. Tseng Shu O, Sykes and Perry all had chances in the final 20 minutes but ultimately the points were split.
Junna was impressed with his team's second-half performance considering its injury concerns.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
Email a friend