Melbourne City FC has kept their finals chances alive with a 4-0 win over Newcastle Jets at C.B. Smith Reserve on Sunday night.
Japanese import Yukari Kinga opened the scoring from the penalty spot, before captain Steph Catley doubled City’s lead on the stroke of half-time with a thumping header at the back post.
The dominance continued in the second-half, as Kinga secured her brace from inside the area before Hailie Mace netted her first goal in City blue on debut.
City sit out Round 13 with the bye, before taking on Sydney FC at WIN Stadium on Thursday 31 January.
Team news
Head Coach Rado Vidosic made no changes to the starting XI that faced Brisbane Roar in Round 11.
New signing Hailie Mace was named on the bench, replacing youngster Chelsea Blissett.
https://twitter.com/MelbCityWFC/status/1086888879590797314
What happened?
In perfect conditions for football, both teams looked to deny one another possession in the opening stages.
After a subdued opening 15-minutes, Vidosic’s side kicked into gear in front of their home fans.
On the 20th minute mark, Rhali Dobson found the ball at her feet before cutting in onto her right foot and striking the upright.
10 minutes later City would find the breakthrough. A short corner saw Tameka Butt turn Cassidy Davis in the area before the Jets defender fouled but with a clumsy challenge. Yukari Kinga stepped up to take the spot kick, beating Eckerstrom for pace and burying her effort into the bottom corner.
Moments later, central defender Rebekah Stott went inches away from making it two. After making a brilliant run into the box, Butt slipped her through on goal, before she fired her effort into the crossbar.
With momentum well and truly with the hosts Steph Catley would make it 2-0 in the 37th minute, latching onto Elise Kellond-Knight’s corner with a thumping header at the back post.
Under lights at C.B. Smith Reserve, the second-half kicked off much like the first ended with City on the front foot. Jasmyne Spencer looked to thread Catley through on goal, but the skipper took a heavy touch, allowing the ball to trickle through to Britt Eckerstrom.
In the 58th minute, Helen Caceres found Kinga superbly, who took a touch before firing home her second goal for the night from just inside the area.
The dominance continued for Vidosic’s side and soon after they made it 4-0. Butt’s dominance in the middle continued, this time finding debutant Hailie Mace who took a touch inside the area before showing great composure to slide home City’s fourth of the night.
What’s next?
City will sit out Round 13 with the bye, before returning to action on Thursday 31 January, when they take on Sydney FC at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.
