Melbourne City created history with an enthralling 4-3 win over third-placed Adelaide United at the ctrl:cyber Pitch on Sunday afternoon.
With this win, City broke the A-League Women’s record for the longest unbeaten streak, extending it to 19 games in the race for the 2024/25 Premiers Plate.
Matildas star Holly McNamara delivered a player-of-the-match performance, netting a hat-trick that secured three crucial points for City.
The team’s focus now shifts to Sunday’s important AFC Women’s Champions League Quarter Final in Melbourne.
TEAM NEWS
Michael Matricciani made two changes to the starting XI with Holly McNamara and Tyla-Jay Vlajnic replacing Bryleeh Henry and Karly Roestbakken.
Captain, Rebekah Stott, led the side in her 116th appearance for the Club – moving into fifth on City’s all-time appearance list behind Curtis Good, Jamie Maclaren, Scott Jamieson and Aziz Behich.
Starting XI: 24. Malena MIERES (GK), 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 5. Taylor OTTO, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 27. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC, 14. Laura HUGHES, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 19. Lourdes BOSCH, 17. Mariana SPECKMAIER, 9. Holly MCNAMARA.
Substitutes: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 12. Shelby McMAHON, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 22. Bryleeh HENRY.
WHAT HAPPENED?
In difficult conditions at the ctrl:cyber Pitch, it was City who started the stronger of the two sides as they looked to cement their spot on top of the A-League Women’s table against the in-form Adelaide United who were on an impressive unbeaten streak of their own.
After earning a trio of early set pieces, City found the breakthrough on the 10th minute mark. Tyla-Jay Vlajnic fired a free-kick from the edge of the 18-yard-box forcing a save from Claudia Jenkins, before a quartet a City stars swarmed the keeper, with Holly McNamara finding the decisive touch to make it 1-0.
City’s early dominance continued throughout the first-half, as Matricciani’s team put together one of their most complete halves this season. Controlling the game, City continued to exploit the spaces in-behind.
In the 26th minute, the hosts would double their advantage as skipper Rebekah Stott read the play perfectly before stepping in front of her opponent and intercepting the ball. Driving forward, Stott drew Ella Tonkin before playing Lourdes Bosch in to space who dribbled towards the box before slipping through McNamara whose sliding effort made it 2-0.
With just under 15 minutes left in the first half, Adelaide pulled one back from a corner taken by Emily Condon. A scramble in the box allowed Ella Tonkin to toe the ball home from close range, making it 2-1.
Just as it seemed City would head into half-time with a narrow lead, they regained their two-goal advantage in the 40th minute. Vlajnic delivered a dangerous in-swinging corner, which was nodded into her own net by Adelaide’s León.
An entertaining first-half between first and third on the league ladder, set the stage for a big second period.
Adelaide responded quickly in the second half, scoring in the 52nd minute. A blocked clearance fell to Erin Healy, who found the bottom corner with a superb strike from the edge of the box, narrowing the gap to 3-2.
In the 64th minute, McNamara was at her clinical best. As the Reds failed to clear in the box, City continued to put the pressure on with the ball falling to McNamara, whose first time strike found the inside of the far post, securing her second hat-trick of the season.
Determined to stay in the match and continue their unbeaten run, Adelaide struck again in the 73rd minute. Following another corner, Tolland produced an intelligent header to bring the score to 4-3.
Despite Adelaide’s late push, City finished strong, denying any further chances and securing a hard-fought three points against a resilient opponent.
WHAT’S NEXT?
City will create history on Sunday afternoon as they host the first ever AFC Women’s Champions League match on Australian soil.
On Sunday 23 March, City will face Taiwanese side Taichung Blue Whale at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, marking an important milestone in Australian women’s football.
Witness history and purchase your tickets now!
