DUBBO twins Nicole Begg and Ashleigh Sykes will line up for yet another W-League finals campaign with Canberra United, despite the defending premiers being held to a 1-1 draw by Adelaide United in the final round of the regular season.
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Canberra will face Sydney FC in a grand final qualifier at McKellar Park this Sunday, but they go into the game with their eight-match winning run ended in controversial circumstances.
After Mexican international Veronica Perez scored from the penalty spot to put Canberra ahead in the 22nd minute and Abby Dahlkemper squared the ledger just before halftime, it was Sykes who appeared to have put the green machine ahead again in the 63rd minute with a clinical finish off a clever set piece.
However, Canberra was judged to have taken the penalty too quickly to the relief and the goal didn't stand.
The result didn't have any impact on Canberra's second placed finish behind unbeaten Melbourne City on the ladder and they will be buoyed by hosting the semi-final this weekend.
Sykes put in another strong display to keep herself at the forefront of Matildas selection, earning her side the penalty while constantly troubling the Adelaide defence.
"She was absolutely on fire last night and created a number of opportunities apart from the goal," Canberra coach Rae Dower said.
"A bit of familiar pattern for Ash, she's in such good form at the moment.
"She's learning with trying to stay out of some of those style of challenges because they happen so frequently you don't want her to risk getting injured."
