A late brace from Holly McNamara spurred Melbourne City to a come-from-behind victory over Newcastle Jets in Round 5 of the Liberty A-League.
Daniela Galic opened the scoring before Emily van Egmond led the hosts to a 2-1 lead at the break.
Dario Vidosic’s side left it late as McNamara netted a double to extend City’s unbeaten start to the season.
Team News
Dario Vidosic made one change to the starting XI as Emina Ekic replaced Leticia McKenna. Ekic’s first start of the season saw Galic move into central midfield.
Tijan McKenna and Leah Davidson were both named on the bench, replacing Isabella Accardo and Kiera Meyers.
Starting XI: 44. Lysianne PROULX (GK), 8. Kaitlyn TORPEY, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 5. Taylor OTTO, 7. Julia GROSSO, 14. Laura HUGHES, 24. Daniela GALIC, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 9. Holly MCNAMARA, 11. Emina EKIC, 17. Hannah WILKINSON.
Substitutes: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 3. Naomi CHINNAMA, 6. Leticia MCKENNA, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 19. Tijan MCKENNA.
What happened?
Play kicked off in warm conditions in Newcastle, as over three thousand spectators watched on at No.2 Sportsground.
It took just eight minutes for Daniela Galic to slam home the opener as Emina Ekic produced a brilliant run on the wing. Ekic danced past the Jets defender before cutting the ball back into a dangerous area where it eventually popped up to Galic who volleyed home expertly.
Despite City taking an early lead, the Jets responded strongly led by Matildas star, Emily van Egmond.
The Jets midfielder netted an equaliser in the 14th minute, before playing a long-range dink for Lara Gooch to run onto and finish clinically, handing the hosts a 2-1 lead at the break.
Having never lost a game to the Jets, City began the second half strongly with Kaitlyn Torpey doing plenty of damage bombing forward.
The City full-back set up McNamara just a minute in but the effort on goal was blazed over the bar.
Torpey continued to stay involved and went close in 59th minute forcing a good save out of the Jets goalkeeper before Hannah Wilkinson was also denied on the follow-up.
The equaliser would come in the 75th minute and it was McNamara scoring a header for the second consecutive week.
After City secured the second ball following a corner, Galic whipped in a cross which McNamara expertly headed home.
McNamara continued to wreak havoc as City searched and searched for a late winner throughout the last 15 minutes.
It would eventually come with just minutes left on the clock.
Capping off a strong first start of the season, Ekic played a delightful ball to get McNamara in behind and through on goal, which the 20-year-old tucked away past the onrushing goalkeeper.
Unfortunately for City, it came at a cost with McNamara going down after contact with the keeper and needing to be helped from the pitch.
Tijan McKenna was introduced for the final moments in her place as City was able to see out a hard-fought three points.
What’s next?
Remaining in second on the table, our City Women will face Sydney FC away from home next Sunday afternoon as we look to continue our unbeaten start to the season.
The Club will provide an update on McNamara’s injury as soon as possible following the team’s return to Melbourne.
