After a lucky goal to Brisbane's Jo Burgess in the sixth minute that just slipped in under the crossbar, Canberra matched it with the ladder-leaders before Cian Maciejewski equalised after 58 minutes.

But the Roar showed its class shortly after when midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight smashed the winner into the top-right corner; a contender for goal of the year.

United didn't give up and lifted the crowd to its feet with a flurry of chances to finish the game. The best two were from Ellie Brush headers in the final five minutes, but Roar goalkeeper Casey Dumont saved both on the line.

Brisbane coach Jeff Hopkins said the quality of his team, which had Matildas coming off the bench yesterday, was the difference in the win.

''I think most probably looking back on the game, a draw would have been a fair result. But the quality and the character of our team really shows through when times get tough,'' he said.

United is third last on the ladder with just one win after six games.

But Canberra coach Ray Junna said there was no reason his team couldn't win its last four matches against Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide and Newcastle to make the semis.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times