Melbourne City are Ninja A-League Champions once again after a thrilling 3-1 Grand Final victory over Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
In front of a strong home crowd, City produced another unforgettable Finals performance to secure the fifth Women’s Championship in Club history and complete the Premiership-Championship double for the third time.
Holly McNamara was the star of the show on the biggest stage, scoring twice in the space of three first-half minutes before Leticia McKenna added a stunning third soon after the restart to help City take control of the decider.
After dominating much of the opening half, City finally found the breakthrough in spectacular fashion in the 41st minute.
Receiving the ball on the edge of the area with her back to goal, McNamara created space before unleashing a stunning curling strike into the top corner to send AAMI Park into celebration.
Just two minutes later, City struck again.
Excellent work from young midfielder Shelby McMahon opened up the Wellington defence, with McNamara timing her run perfectly before driving into the box and firing clinically across goal to double the advantage before half time.
City carried that momentum into the second half and needed less than five minutes after the restart to add another moment of brilliance.
Given too much space outside the box, McKenna stepped inside and produced a sensational left-foot strike that curled in off the post to make it 3-0.
Wellington would respond through Makala Woods shortly after and continued to push throughout the second half, but City stood tall defensively to close out the contest and secure the Championship on home soil.
The triumph caps a remarkable domestic campaign for Michael Matricciani’s side, with City having also secured the Premiership last month after finishing top of the table.
“I’m very proud of this group,” Matricciani said post-match.
“We’ve put in so much work over the last couple of seasons, and to get the reward of completing the domestic double is just a super proud moment.
“Our players executed the plan perfectly, and we dominated with and without the ball for the first 50 or 60 minutes.”
Player of the Final, Holly McNamara, said the occasion was one the squad would never forget.
“It was a crazy game. I think we were on top in the first half and then they probably were in the second, but to come away with the result… we’re just all ecstatic,” McNamara said.
There will be little time for celebration for City, with the squad departing at 7am on Sunday morning for South Korea ahead of next week’s AFC Women’s Champions League Semi Final against Tokyo Verdy Beleza.
