Familiar faces were everywhere you looked at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday night.
Melbourne City’s influence was on full display as the Ninja A-League All Stars took on English powerhouse Chelsea, with five members of our reigning Championship and Premiership-winning squad selected for the showpiece fixture.
No club had more representatives than City, while Club legend Melissa Barbieri was also part of the coaching staff as an Assistant Coach.
And when the teams walked out, the City contingent was front and centre.
Rebekah Stott, Karly Roestbakken, Leticia McKenna and Aideen Keane were all named in the starting XI, giving City four representatives on the pitch from the opening whistle.
The familiar faces didn’t stop there either.
Young midfielder Shelby McMahon was introduced in the 71st minute, gaining another valuable experience on the big stage against one of the world’s leading clubs.
While the All Stars fought hard throughout the contest, Chelsea’s quality ultimately shone through as the reigning English champions secured a 3-0 win.
Even on the other side of the pitch, there was a little City flavour.
Former City defender Ellie Carpenter featured for Chelsea, returning to familiar surroundings in Australia after joining the English giants following a decorated spell with Lyon.
Carpenter will always hold a special place in City history, having played a key role in our unforgettable 2019/20 Invincibles campaign – starting every match as we completed an unbeaten season and secured the Premiership-Championship double.
For Stott, Roestbakken, McKenna, Keane and McMahon, Wednesday night provided a chance to enjoy some football before attention shifts towards another big campaign in City blue.
With All Stars duties now wrapped up, the countdown to the 2026/27 Ninja A-League season can begin.
Our City Women will return for pre-season in the coming weeks, with plenty more signing news to come as preparations for our Premiership and Championship defence ramp up.
Stay tuned to Club channels; there’s plenty to look forward to!
Imagery: A-Leagues // Tiff Williams
