Not only did Heyman reclaim the coveted record but she extended it to 72 goals, all the while playing an instrumental role in United's 3-2 win over Perth Glory on Friday.

Indeed it was a dramatic night at Viking Park, with the round-12 match looked to be heading towards a stalemate until Canberra was awarded two penalties in the dying minutes.

Hope turned to heartbreak as Kendall Fletcher missed both attempts, but Heyman told her captain as the clock ticked into extra time, "don't worry, I have your back. I'll get this."

And that she did.

In the final minute, the striker slid the ball past Glory goalkeeper Lily Alfeld to land United a vital victory.

"I put so much pressure on myself but I wanted to and knew that's when leaders need to step up," Heyman said.

"That was my role in tonight's game. I think I kept the ball moving, kept it off the opposition and tried to create so many chances for other people. If I can do that, then I think Canberra United will be a successful team."

It sees United edge closer to their first finals appearance in four seasons, but whether Vicki Linton's outfit stays in the top four will depend on other results.

Leading into this round, United sat two points behind Melbourne Victory in fifth place - with Jeff Hopkin's side scheduled to play Perth on Tuesday.

"We needed that win to stay in the hunt, it was vital," Linton said.

"I'm really proud, that last 10 minutes was action packed and a little bit too dramatic for my liking. We had chance after chance after chance, but they weren't giving up. They weren't going to let it go. That was brilliant."

Linton's side was relentless in attack with 22 shots on goal to Perth's seven, making 26 crosses and 450 passes at 77.3 per cent accuracy.

But United was left to rue numerous missed chances as the visitors counted their efforts with two equalisers, making them fight until the final whistle.

The teams entered the half-time break on level terms, although Nicki Flannery could have marked the score sheet two more times than she did.

The striker blew two shots in four minutes early in the match, but third time's the charm as she slid the ball past Alfeld in the 35th minute to score her fourth goal of the season.

Bianca Galic and Paige Satchell both shared chances that went wide, while Heyman could have made it two when the ball nearly ricocheted into the net.

It looked as though United would enter the break with the advantage until Glory's Caitlin Doeglas leveled the scores in the 41st minute, sending an absolute pearler high in the centre of goal.

Heyman headed home in the 54th minute to write her name in the W-League's history books, sneaking past Sam Kerr as the outright all-time leading scorer.

Alfeld did well to deflect a threatening strike from Heyman's boot, but on the second opportunity the veteran found the top pocket with a wonderful flourish on the turn.

MORE CANBERRA SPORT

But her celebrations were cut short when Perth drew level in the 71st minute via Kat Jukic.

Canberra had a chance to close out the match when they drew two late penalties for a foul and hand ball, but Fletcher's attempts went begging.

In came Heyman to lead United home with her 72nd W-League goal, ensuring the team kept their finals hopes alive.

"Taking a penalty is the hardest thing ever and that's why I don't do that," Heyman said.

"I give it all to her, to do that you have to have courage and be brave. She did it. She was coping a lot from the goalkeeper and players on the field.

"To miss two is never easy, but we're a team and we fight for each other to the very end. That's something we all put out on the field. We weren't going to lose this game, we weren't going to let it get away from us."

AT A GLANCE

W-LEAGUE Round 12: CANBERRA UNITED 3 (Flannery 35' Heyman 54' 90+4') bt PERTH GLORY 2 (Doeglas 41' Jukic 71').