Canberra United have agonisingly missed out on an A-League Women finals spot to Melbourne Victory on goal difference despite a 3-3 comeback draw against Melbourne City.
United had to beat City to leapfrog fourth-placed Melbourne Victory into the finals places and for much of the night, appeared set for defeat courtesy of a Holly McNamara masterclass.
Matildas young gun McNamara starred, delivering sumptuous assists for Hannah Wilkinson and Rhianna Pollicina in the 12th and 34th minutes before rounding out her night with a delightful chipped goal in the 59th.
But Vesna Milivojevic had a hand in Grace Jale's opener in the 14th minute, scored herself in the 80th then lashed home a belter in the 88th to make for a heart-stopping finish.
Victory finished fourth on 29 points with a goal difference of +7, just two goals ahead of Canberra (29 points, +5).
City (30 points) sealed third place and will face Victory in an elimination final after the international break.
Premiers Sydney FC will host second-placed Western United in their semi-final.
City took the lead when McNamara burst away down the right flank then cleverly squared the ball for Wilkinson to bury at the back post.
Canberra's reply was instant.
Milivojevic pinched the ball off Katie Bowen and slipped the ball through for Michelle Heyman.
The veteran striker found Jale, who propped and coolly powered a shot into the bottom corner.
McNamara again sparked when City needed, powering down the right flank and holding her nerve to pick out Pollicina with a cutback.
In the 53rd minute, Laura Hughes whipped the ball in towards Wu Chengshu who inexplicably missed a close-range shot.
McNamara appeared to have rounded out the victory in the 59th minute when she got away on the break and coolly dinked the ball over Canberra goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln.
Canberra got some hope when Milivojevic bundled home in the 80th.
Barbieri brilliantly denied Milivojevic in the 84th but four minutes later, the attacker watched City's defence back off and thundered home a strike.
It made for a nervy finish but, to Canberra's dismay and Victory's relief, City held on.
