Canberra boost W-League title defence - Breaking News - Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney Morning Herald

AAP

Canberra United's W-League title defence is back on track after a 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets pulled the champions up into a log-jam near the top of the ladder.

United's win on Saturday combined with draws for the top four sides left five teams separated by a single point behind leaders Perth Glory who are two points clear.

The Glory were unable to extend their lead when held 2-2 by Brisbane Roar, while Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC played out a 1-1 stalemate.

Canberra broke their four-match losing streak in midweek with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Glory and they recorded another tough win against Newcastle, despite energy-sapping heat in the nation's capital, to climb to equal second with Sydney FC and Brisbane, with Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney one point behind.

United fullback Nicole Sykes' perfectly timed her maiden W-League goal, hitting the back of the net following a searing run and strike midway through the first half.

The second-from-bottom Jets created several chances but were unable to convert and they lost key midfielder Emily van Egmond to a red card in the second half.

Perth seemed set to extend their lead at the top to five points after taking a 2-0 advantage into halftime in Brisbane.

However, the Roar, showing trademark resilience, hit back through Tameka Butt before Katrina Gorry equalised four minutes from the end.

Sydney FC were denied the chance to join the Glory on top when Melbourne Victory's Maika Ruyter-Hooley equalised following Caitlin Foord's early strike.

Melbourne's Petra Larsson and Amy Jackson were both denied by the woodwork in a match played in temperatures reaching the high 30s before giving way to gusty winds.

Visitors Sydney FC were further hamstrung by the absence of Ellyse Perry with calf soreness while young gun Foord went off with an ankle injury after 20 minutes and goalkeeper Sian McLaren was taken ill just minutes before kick-off.

The Sky Blues have a great opportunity to move top this Saturday when they host Perth Glory.

Western Sydney Wanderers were untroubled against cellar-dwellers Adelaide, hitting four unanswered goals in a record winning margin for the league's newest club.

Sweden's Louise Fors scored a double, with Sarah Walsh and Servet Uzunlar also on the scoresheet.