Melbourne City were forced to settle for a share of the points in Sunday’s Ninja A-League Melbourne Derby, playing out a goalless draw against Melbourne Victory at the Home of the Matildas.
In a contest that ultimately lacked a decisive moment, City controlled large periods and fashioned the better opportunities, but were unable to find a breakthrough despite holding the visitors without a shot on target across the 90 minutes.
Team News
Michael Matricciani was forced into one change from the side that produced a memorable come-from-behind victory over Brisbane Roar the previous weekend.
Captain Rebekah Stott missed the clash after undergoing thumb surgery, with Karly Roestbakken coming into the starting XI. A slight defensive reshuffle followed, with Danielle Turner partnering Taylor Otto in central defence, as Otto assumed the captain’s armband.
There was also a welcome sight on the bench, with Leah Davidson named in a matchday squad for the first time in over a month after recovering from a knee injury.
Starting XI: 24. Malena MIERES (GK), 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 3. Dan TURNER, 5. Taylor OTTO (C), 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 12. Shelby McMAHON, 11. Deven JACKSON, 21. Aideen KEANE, 22. Bryleeh HENRY, 9. Holly MCNAMARA.
Substitutes: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 15. Chinaza UCHENDU, 17. Kaya JUGOVIC, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 20. Caitlin KARIC, 7. Danella BUTRUS.
What happened?
City made an encouraging start and were quick to test the Victory defence, with Aideen Keane flashing an early effort just wide of the near post inside the opening five minutes. The visitors had a couple of speculative long-range attempts of their own, but Malena Mieres was largely untroubled in the early exchanges.
After a frenetic opening spell, the game settled into a more measured rhythm, with both sides trading periods of possession without creating clear-cut chances. City gradually began to assert greater control, moving the ball well through midfield and probing down the flanks, while Victory looked to threaten on the counter.
The visitors’ best opportunity of the first half came in the 37th minute when Holly Furphy broke forward on the transition, but her effort drifted wide of Mieres’ far post. City responded strongly late in the half, increasing the pressure in the attacking third and spending extended periods camped inside Victory territory.
That pressure appeared to tell just before the break when Bryleeh Henry found the back of the net after a neat cutback from Keane, only for the assistant’s flag to halt celebrations with Henry ruled offside. Despite City finishing the half on top, the sides went into the sheds locked at 0-0, with Victory failing to register a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.
Matricciani opted to keep faith with his starting XI after the restart, and City again began on the front foot. Deven Jackson created an early opening, squaring the ball for Leticia McKenna, whose effort was straight at Victory goalkeeper Courtney Newbon.
The second half developed into a cagey affair, with City’s defensive unit – marshalled impressively by Otto and Turner – limiting Victory’s attacking opportunitiesr. At the other end, City continued to look the more likely, going close to winning a penalty when Keane was fouled just outside the box in the 50th minute.
Keane later tested Newbon with a sharp effort from range after a swift counterattack sparked by Holly McNamara, forcing the Victory keeper into a diving save. With time ticking down, Matricciani turned to his bench, introducing Davidson and Danella Butrus in the 76th minute, marking a milestone 100th Ninja A-League appearance for Davidson.
Butrus made an immediate impact, finding space inside the area moments after coming on and striking towards goal, only for a deflection to divert the ball behind. McNamara also went close late on, driving forward under pressure and managing a shot on target, though without enough power to trouble Newbon.
City pushed for a late winner, but despite enjoying territorial dominance and finishing with five shots on target to zero, the breakthrough never arrived, and the points were shared in an ultimately uneventful Derby.
What’s next?
City will now turn our attention to their final fixture before the league pauses for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, travelling to face Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Friday night.
