Melbourne City defeated Newcastle Jets 2-0 at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night, setting a new Club record of 19 games unbeaten.
Laura Hughes broke the deadlock with a fierce low drive, before Holly McNamara secured the three points with a late solo run.
It was a strong result for Michael Matricciani’s team who ended a tough week of fixtures in style, with three points and a clean sheet away from home.
TEAM NEWS
Michael Matricciani made one change to the starting XI that defeated Western United 5-1 mid-week, with star striker Holly McNamara replaced by Bryleeh Henry.
With McNamara’s minutes managed, Mariana Speckmaier replaced City’s number 9 in a central role and Henry started out wide.
Starting XI: 24. Malena MIERES (GK), 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 5. Taylor OTTO, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 14. Laura HUGHES, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 19. Lourdes BOSCH, 17. Mariana SPECKMAIER, 22. Bryleeh HENRY.
Substitutes: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 7. Kathryn HARVEY, 12. Shelby McMAHON, 29. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC, 9. Holly McNAMARA.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Under lights at McDonald Jones Stadium, it was evident that both teams were looking to attack early.
For the visitors, it was Mariana Speckmaier who had her team’s first shot. Streaming through the middle, it opened up for City’s attacker before she fired her effort off target.
Moments later it was City skipper, Rebekah Stott, who tried her luck from way out. Intercepting in the middle of the park, Stott powered forwards before unleashing a fierce long range effort which beat the Jets keeper and rattled the crossbar.
Making her first start since returning from injury, Bryleeh Henry looked threatening throughout the first-half and went close to breaking the deadlock on the 22nd minute mark. Leticia McKenna played through Speckmaier with a perfectly weighted cross before the Venezuelan international beat her defender and found Henry, whose effort glanced just wide of the upright.
At the other end the Jets were mostly forced to have long-range shots on goal. However their best chance of the half came in the 38th minute when Stott’s desperate goal line clearance denied Sophie Hobin from close range.
Speckmaier looked more and more threatening in the attacking third as the half progressed. Her low drive from outside the area forced a sharp save on the half-hour mark, before she went inches away from meeting Alexia Apostolakis’ brilliant cross on the cusp of half-time.
The second-half kicked off in similar fashion to the first as both team’s looked to find the breakthrough.
Michael Matricciani looked to his bench in the 55th minute as star striker Holly McNamara replaced Bryleeh Henry in attack.
It proved to be the spark City needed as they pushed to find the opener. With 20 minutes of regulation time to play it eventually came as Laura Hughes made it 1-0 with an excellent low drive from just outside the 18-yard box.
McNamara’s forward run caused chaos in the box before a Jets clearance hit the back of Speckmaier and fell to Hughes. With an eye for goal this season, Hughes looked up, set up, and hit a fierce low drive into the bottom corner of the net.
As Newcastle pushed forward in search of an equaliser, the game opened up and McNamara was there to punish them at the other end.
Latching onto Karly Roestbakken’s ball, McNamara beat Natasha Prior to the ball in her own half before dribbling the length of the attacking half and cooly slotting home the sealer in a one-on-one with the keeper.
It was a strong result to end a tough schedule of fixtures this week for City, who set a new club record for 19 straight games unbeaten.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Melbourne City return to AAMI Park next Saturday 15 February, hosting Sydney FC in an important doubleheader, with the action kicking off at 7:45pm following the Men’s match.
