Melbourne City was held to a 1-1 draw at City Football Academy on Sunday afternoon after Adelaide United was able to grab a share of the points.
Daniela Galic had City ahead briefly in the second half before Adelaide answered, neither side able to add to the scoreboard in the final 20 minutes.
Team News
Dario Vidosic made the one solitary change to last week’s XI that shared the points with Sydney FC.
Bryleeh Henry returned to the line-up upfront as Leticia McKenna shifted to the bench, Rhianna Pollicina slotting back into midfield as a result.
Starting XI: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 3. Naomi CHINNAMA, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 5. Taylor OTTO, 19. Tijan McKENNA, 14. Laura HUGHES, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA (C), 11. Emina EKIC, 24. Daniela GALIC, 22. Bryleeh HENRY.
Substitutes: 1. Sophia VARLEY (GK), 2. Leia VARLEY, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 12. Shelby McMAHON, 15. Kiera MEYERS.
What happened?
For the second time this weekend, it surprisingly wasn’t City holding the early share of possession.
Adelaide looked to play out from the back at every opportunity possible, inviting the City press.
Slowly building into the game, skipper Rhianna Pollicina fired at goal in the 27th but Adelaide scrambled to put in a good block.
City continued to up the pressure as Laura Hughes fired at goal a few minutes later, but Annalee Grove dealt with it comfortably.
Pollicina continued to be involved in everything, setting up Bryleeh Henry in the 40th but the latter’s effort was just over the bar.
Just moments later it was Pollicina firing at goal, putting on a lovely spin to bamboozle the Adelaide defence but putting her shot just wide of the post.
A contentious handball denied City a penalty right on the half time whistle, as we headed into the second half locked at 0-0.
Although Adelaide fired off the first few shots of the second stanza, it was City fashioning the first real opportunity.
Pollicina and Emina Ekic were involved in a lethal buildup where the latter played the ball across the goal to a waiting Daniela Galic, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net in the 68th minute.
Following a week where she was not just called up to the Young Matildas Asian Cup squad but also asked to train with the senior Matildas, Galic had her sixth goal of the season.
The lead wouldn’t last long though, Adelaide finding the equaliser after Alana Jancevski’s corner was scrambled over the line a few minutes later.
The ever-present Galic forced a great save out of Grove not long after, but that would be about the end of the major chances for the day as neither side could alter the 1-1 scoreline in the final 20 minutes.
What’s next?
Our City Women will enjoy a well-deserved weekend off due to the international break, returning to the pitch on Saturday 2 March away to Brisbane Roar.
