Canberra United secured its place in the W-League finals with an entertaining 0-0 draw against ladder-leading Sydney FC on Friday night.
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The almost 1500-strong crowd at Viking Park witnessed star striker Michelle Heyman hit the post and Sydney gun Remy Siemsen have an early strike ruled out for offside before the spoils were ultimately shared.
It meant United leapfrogged Adelaide into third spot due to a narrowly superior goal difference, and guaranteed the lowest they can finish is fourth, depending on fifth-placed Melbourne Victory's final two results.
Coach Vicki Linton now has the luxury of allowing the rest of the W-League season to unfold while giving her players a rest this weekend.
They will play either Sydney FC again, or Brisbane at the end of next weekend for a place in the final.
"I'm just really proud of that performance from a coaching point of view, they executed the game plan, they did everything we asked of them, it would've been nice to get a goal but just from a football point of view they delivered on everything we asked," Linton said.
"The zero-zero was enough to get us into the finals. Really pleased for the players, I'm really proud of them and I think the effort that they showed was tremendous. I'm just looking forward to what we can do next week."
Linton went into the match knowing her charges only needed a draw to play finals football, but gave her industrious side a licence to attack.
Momentum ebbed and flowed throughout the balmy evening in Tuggeranong with both goalkeepers forced to earn their pay before the referee's whistle brought the delirious home fans to their feet in celebration.
"I don't think you should ever play for a draw, I think that's really really dangerous and I don't think you'll be successful doing that," Linton said.
"We came out to win the game because we think we're good enough to win the game. All credit to Sydney who haven't played in three weeks and probably didn't train much this week with the torrential rain there.
"They're a quality team but I feel we outplayed them today and that's what I'm proud about."
Sydney FC, who missed the chance to finish top with a win, trounced Canberra 4-0 last time they met but it was United who shaded the play on this occasion.
"Happiest with a clean sheet and giving one corner away, we didn't even have to do that but on that corner Keeley came out and punched it," Linton said.
"Our defensive work is something we've been spending a lot of time on the training field doing.
"It was probably the catalyst from the last time we played Sydney, to see the change in how the team played from then to now, that shows how much we've come along as a team."
AT A GLANCE
CANBERRA UNITED 0 drew with SYDNEY FC 0 at Viking Park. Referee: Rebecca Durcau.
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