Melbourne City will play Perth Glory for their second consecutive W-League title after Jess Fishlock scored in extra-time to defeat premiers Canberra United 1-0 in a tense semi-final.

United goalkeeper Trudy Burke was saved by her crossbar when Fishlock struck in the first half of extra-time in Canberra on Sunday night.

But there was nothing Burke could do to stop the Welsh player-coach burying a 107th-minute strike that broke the deadlock and earned the reigning champions a shot at defending their title in Perth next weekend.

It was a fiesty, frenetic finish to a somewhat cagey affair, as former City star Lisa De Vanna was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Fishlock amid desperation for a late equaliser.

The players endured 120 minutes in temperatures nearing 30 degrees at GIO Stadium despite a six-hour delay to avoid the worst of the heat.

While the Glory crushed Sydney FC 5-1 on Saturday, this second set of semi-finalists were far more more evenly matched.

City had the share of possession in the cat-and-mouse contest but their mildly conservative play produced few real chances apart from Erika Tymrak’s connection with the crossbar.

But United were more progressive in attack thanks to the smarts of Japanese import Yukari Kinga, who dipped a long-range strike that whistled just over the bar.

As the stalemate wore on well into the second half, De Vanna fidgeted on the bench in eagerness to take on the club she guided to last season’s premiership-championship double.

Coach Rae Dower finally brought her on for Jasmyne Spencer with 12 minutes remaining and the Matildas co-captain wasted no time making an impact.

De Vanna set up City’s most dangerous play of the half with a marauding run and ball for Stephanie Ochs who, after skying numerous shots, found the target but failed to pass the impenetrable Lydia Williams.

