Ellie Carpenter traded blows with Alyssa Mautz early to leave the scores locked at 1-1, but there was a false dawn on the horizon for Adelaide.

Elise Thorsnens soon bagged a hat-trick as Canberra jolted to life, while Karly Roestbakken and returnee Ashleigh Sykes also nabbed goals.

The score was 6-1 by the 53rd minute, but a series of substitutions killed momentum and the scoreline remained unchanged.

The win gives Canberra some breathing space above Melbourne Victory in the last finals place, while Adelaide continue to sit stone-cold-last, with pressure building on Reds’ boss Ivan Karlovic.