Melbourne City continued our perfect start to the AFC Women’s Champions League with another commanding display in Ho Chi Minh City, easing to a 7–0 win over Filipino side Stallion Laguna on Sunday evening.
Early goals from Aideen Keane and Leah Davidson set the tone, before Leticia McKenna’s first-half brace put City firmly in control before the break.
Second-half goal from substitutes Deven Jackson and Danella Butrus completed the job, wrapping up another assured and professional performance from Michael Matricciani’s side – marking the biggest City Women’s win in Club history.
Team News
Matricciani made two changes to the XI that defeated Lion City Sailors on Thursday night.
Malena Mieres returned in goal, while Shelby McMahon came back into the side on the right wing. Melissa Barbieri and Danella Butrus shifted to the bench as a result.
Starting XI: 24. Malena MIERES (GK), 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 5. Taylor OTTO, 3. Danielle TURNER, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 14. Laura HUGHES, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 12. Shelby McMAHON, 21. Aideen KEANE, 9. Holly MCNAMARA.
Substitutes: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 25. Ayana AOYAGI (GK), 7. Danella BUTRUS, 10. Izabella RAKO, 11. Deven JACKSON, 15. Chinaza UCHENDU, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 17. Kaya JUGOVIC, 19. Keira SARRIS, 20. Caitlin KARIC, 22. Bryleeh HENRY.
What happened?
Just as we did on Matchday One, City wasted no time stamping our authority on the contest. Holly McNamara carved out the first real chance of the evening in the fifth minute, bursting into the box and forcing a save, only for the rebound to fall perfectly for Aideen Keane. The winger reacted sharply, tucking home from close range to give City the ideal early platform.
Moments later, the lead was doubled through a hugely popular scorer. On her 89th appearance for the Club, Leah Davidson met a pinpoint Rebekah Stott cross with a thumping header, sparking big celebrations from teammates who know just how much the moment meant for the tireless midfielder.
Matricciani was forced into an early reshuffle when McNamara came off with a minor knock- a purely precautionary decision – allowing Danella Butrus to enter the game far earlier than expected.
City continued to control proceedings and were rewarded again in the 40th minute. Butrus’ neat footwork drew a foul inside the area, and McKenna stepped up to calmly convert from the spot.
Deep into stoppage time, the midfielder produced an even better finish: after excellent work down the left from Butrus, McKenna lifted a composed strike past the keeper to complete a well-deserved first-half brace.
City made two changes at the break, with Karly Roestbakken returning for her first minutes of the season and Deven Jackson coming on for her maiden AWCL appearance, replacing Stott and Hughes.
The second half followed a similar pattern – City dominant, composed and in full control. Keane appeared to win a clear penalty in the 54th minute after being brought down by the goalkeeper, but following a VAR check, the referee surprisingly overturned the decision.
It mattered little in the final wash-up. Jackson extended the lead in the 67th minute, timing her run perfectly before being slipped through by Caitlin Karic and finishing across the keeper into the far corner – her first goal in continental competition.
Five minutes later, Butrus continued her excellent tournament by scoring for the second match running, darting to the back post to meet a superb Roestbakken cross and firing home emphatically.
City found a sixth as the clock hit 90 minutes. Substitute Karic showed great awareness to pick out Jackson inside the box for the second time, and the New Zealand international made no mistake, guiding in her second of the night to complete another clinical outing for Matricciani’s squad.
What’s next?
With progression to the knockout stages now all but secured, City will look to complete a perfect Group Stage when we face hosts Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday night.
Kick-off will be at 11:00pm AEDT, with the match streamed live and free on YouTube as City aim to continue our unbeaten start to the 2025/26 continental campaign.
