W-LEAGUE: Sydney late show cruel on Canberra

More late W-League drama saw Sydney FC snatch the latest of winners in an absorbing 4-3 triumph over Canberra United at Leichardt Oval.

A sterling Kyah Simon performance was capped by assisting Emma Kete's 94th minute winner to finally break the resilience of a tiring Canberra.

The Saturday morning fixture was sixth-placed Canberra's first since returning from a fruitless Women's Club Championship, and they met former star player Ellyse Perry and a Sydney side looking to go temporarily first.

And Sydney looked on track to do that when captain Kyah Simon gave them the perfect start in the 5th minute, latching on to a direct ball from defence which split Canberra's two central-defenders. The striker used her body well to hold of the challenge of Ellie Brush before tucking the finish past Mackenzie Arnold.

Sydney had spread possession and stretched the pitch well in the opening ten minutes, but Canberra came into the game more with a pair of long-range shots setting their range on goal.

A moment of true quality, however, saw Sydney leap two goals ahead in the 18th minute.

A Sydney corner was eventually worked down the right flank to Nicola Bolger, who delivered a cross to the penalty spot that was matched in quality by the header of Sam Kerr down and into the far corner.

Bisset should have pulled one back for the visitors around the 25th minute mark, the she could only use the space to wastefully shoot straight at McLaren.

Another dangerous cross resulted in the match's third goal as Canberra's Georgia Yeoman-Dale was picked out in the penalty area, where her settling touch preceded a well-taken goal and a way back into the match for the visitors.

Sydney had the chance to snuff out that avenue, however, when Simon was softly adjudged to have been fouled in Caberra's penalty area when she was sandwiched between two defenders, but United 'keeper Mackenzie Arnold denied the Matildas veteran a first-half brace from the spot, picking the right way.

Canberra carried their momentum into the second half and grabbed a hard-fought equaliser in the 58th minute when the impressive Yeoman-Dale drove through the heart of midfield and slipped a reverse pass through for the clever run of Hayley Raso, who poked the ball beyond the advancing McLaren.

After a period in which they had looked to have lost their attacking cohesiveness, it was the determination and leadership of Sydney captain Simon which pulled the Sky Blues back into the lead.

A move inside the Canberra penalty area looked to have broken down for Sydney when a ball was played aimlessly across goal, but Simon doubled back and raced onto the loose ball, nicking it away from the lunging slide of 'keeper Arnold and winning a second penalty. This time Simon drew on all her experience and slammed an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net.

The hosts were still unable to shake Canberra, though, as the visitors again conjured up an equaliser, this time in extraordinary circumstances. American import Nikki Washington, having replaced the injured Yeoman-Dale for her debut, launched a cross from deep which sailed over Sian McLaren and nestled inside the back post.

However, Sydney ultimately fought to restore their lead once and for all and did so through Kete's calm finish with the last kick of the game, sending Sydney top of the W-League.

SYDNEY 4 (Simon 5', 77' Kerr 18' Kete 94') CANBERRA 3 (Yeoman-Dale 33' Raso 58' Washington 84')

Sydney XI: McLaren (gk), Polias, Ralston, Kerr, Bolger, Rollason, Crummer, Kennedy, Perry, Simon, Billson.

Sydney bench: Khamis, Foord, Logarzo, Kete.

Canberra XI: Arnold (gk), Cooper, Yeoman-Dale, Munoz, Brush, Raso, Heyman, Sykes, Brown, Hingst, Bisset.

Canberra bench: Walters, Shipard, Burke, Washington.