Melbourne Victory have succumbed to the work rate and industry of a crisp Canberra United outfit, failing to match their counterparts in the midfield.
They were often the architects of their own demise as their central players failed to stamp their mark on a relatively free-flowing contest in front of a record W-League crowd.
In the end it was an Ashleigh Sykes strike in the first half which separated the two teams.
It was a relatively tame first half with the visitors holding the majority of the ball.
Victory on the other hand were poor in possession and were rapidly losing the midfield battle.
They did start the better of the two sides however as Gema Simon – who started off the left flank – cut in to receive a pass but skied her side foot volley over the net.
American playmaker was one of a small bunch of standouts for the hosts as her exquisite first touch and silky dribbling saw her fashion a number of chances.
She fired narrowly over the bar within the first 10 minutes, before setting up Amy Jackson with a deep free-kick, which was met with a weak header.
Canberra then began to work their way into the contest and Victory back-up keeper Cass Dimovski had to be on her toes to keep out their first attempt; Caitlin Munoz firing a pile-driver into the arms of the keeper.
The game once again see-sawed and the next chance went the way of captain Steph Catley, who was cleverly slipped in by import Elli Reed.
The full-back couldn’t oblidge with the shot as she hit it low into the grateful arms of Chantel Jones from the angle.
Canberra ramped up the pressure and nearly broke the deadlock in the 20th minute as Ashleigh Sykes pounced on a miscued pass from Lauren Barnes in defence.
Luckily for the home side, her effort – which had Dimovski beaten in goals – was cleared by Barnes, who made amends for her earlier misdemeanour.
The warning signs weren’t heeded however as Sykes popped up again in the 29th minute to knock in the games opener.
The ever dangerous Michelle Heyman smartly turned Hannah Brewer on the left flank, before launching a near post effort which was well smothered by Dimovski.
Her save however was palmed straight back into the path of Sykes who duly delivered and smashed home from 6-yards.
It could’ve been two moments later when Mastrantonio – who was originally beaten easily to the ball – dragged down a Canberra United player in the area, but no penalty was given.
It was a quiet end to the first term, save for a speculative Lori Lindsey effort which had the crowd gasping as it drifted just wide of the left stick.
The second half was a more free-flowing affair as Victory pushed hard for their equaliser.
The mercurial Lisa De Vanna was in fine form as she started a swift counter attack which nearly saw her side pull it back to 1-1.
The forward carried the ball down the pitch with ease in the 54th minute, before spraying the ball wide to Reed, who flicked on cleverly to Brewer.
The right-back’s cross found De Vanna who ran hard to get onto the end of the delivery but failed to test the keeper.
Da Vanna was again in the action three minutes later as she played a delicate delivery over the top to captain Steph Catley, who chipped agonisingly over.
Dimovski was another who shone for the hosts and she had to be at her best to withstand the barrage that came her way.
Goal scorer Sykes squared the ball in for Michelle Heyman but the Australian international’s placed effort was scuppered by a low diving Dimovski.
She then had her hands full as Stephanie Ochs tried an audacious strike from wide right, but the shot-stopper had the awareness to tip the strike wide.
Another glaring chance went begging for the Victory, this time Elli Reed the guilty party as she was stopped at the last line by a desperate United defence.
De Vanna’s searing pace saw her get the better of Nicole Begg before cutting back to her American counterpart, but was stopped by a last-ditch tackle.
Substitute Julia De Angelis was the next to test the safe hands of Dimovski, but again failed to put her shot in a position to trouble the Victory custodian.
With time running out, it was a set-piece which nearly undid the good work of a tidy Canberra outfit, but Nairn’s delivery from the deep floated just over the head of De Vanna.
The loss is a blow for the finals chasing Victory, who for now remain in the top four.
Melbourne Victory XI: 20. Cassandra DIMOVSKI (GK), 2. Hannah BREWER (9. Rachael QUIGLEY 71′), 5. Lauren BARNES, 6. Gema SIMON (16. Beatrice GOAD 65′), 7. Stephanie CATLEY (c), 8. Amy JACKSON, 10. Christine NAIRN, 11. Lisa DE VANNA, Ella MASTRANTONIO, 15. Emma CHECKER, 18. Elli REED.
Substitutes: 30. Tori SNELLEKSZ (GK), 17. Gulcan KOCA
Yellow Cards: Mastrantonio 55′
Red Cards: Nil
Canberra United XI: 1. Chantel JONES, 4. Kendall FLETCHER, 5. Grace FIELD, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ (3. Julia DE ANGELIS 71′), 7. Ellie BRUSH, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJHAN, 13. Nicole BEGG (c), 14. Ashleigh SKYES (10. Grace MAHER 90′), 16. Tori LINDSEY, 22. Stephanie OCHS.
Substitutes: 20. Melissa MAIZELS, 2. Catherine BROWN
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil