Melbourne City celebrated our final home game of the regular season in style, securing a 3-0 win over Central Coast Mariners.
Two goals in quick succession had us ahead in the first half, before Taylor Otto sealed it late with her City goal.
The three points saw us finish the day on top of the ladder, setting up a huge final week of the season.
Team News
Dario Vidosic stuck with an unchanged XI from last weekend’s scoreless Melbourne Derby.
The big news came on the bench, with Daniela Galic and Naomi Chinnama returning from international duty, while Rhianna Pollicina was also named after missing last week due to a knock in training.
Starting XI: 88. BARBARA, 22. Bryleeh HENRY, 5. Taylor OTTO, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 14. Laura HUGHES, 12. Shelby McMAHON, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 11. Emina EKIC, 17. Hannah WILKINSON.
Substitutes: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 3. Naomi CHINNAMA, 7. Julia GROSSO, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 24. Daniela GALIC.
What happened?
The fixture got underway in perfect conditions at City Football Academy, both sides seeming happy to ease into the contest.
Hannah Wilkinson slid a ball inbetween the defence nicely for Emina Ekic for our first chance of the game in the 16th minute, but the latter couldn’t get enough power on her shot to trouble Sarah Langman.
It was that duo involved for two goals in just three minutes not long later though.
First off it was 15-year-old Shelby McMahon firing at goal and although the initial effort was saved, it was only right in the path of Wilkinson who smashed it home from close range.
The referee was pointing to the spot just moments after the Mariners kicked off, a handball in the box giving us a chance to double our advantage… and that’s just what we did, Ekic cooly slotting the spot kick into the bottom corner.
McMahon went close as we approached half time, using some quick feet to work her way into the box but shooting just over the bar – agonisingly close to her first professional goal.
The second half almost got off to a perfect start for the visitors, awarded a penalty after just four minutes.
Thankfully for City fans though, Barbara wouldn’t even have to make a save with Kyah Simon putting her effort wide.
The Mariners continued to attack our goal, Barbara pulling off an acrobatic save to ensure we maintained out two-goal lead.
Pollicina made her return moments later and added plenty of spark alongside fellow substitute, Julia Grosso.
The duo were on the same page in the 75th minute, Pollicina placing a cutback perfect across the box for Grosso but the defender was denied from close range just to a brilliant save from Langman.
There was no stopping Pollicina’s cutback in the dying stages though, playing another perfect ball – this time for Otto – to slam home from close range and seal the win.
What’s next?
It’ll all be on the line next week when we travel to Perth to face the Glory away from home in our final match of the regular season.
The clash will kick off at 6pm on Sunday evening and you can tune in live and free via 10play!
