Melbourne City captain Rebekah Stott has praised her side’s response to its opening AFC Women’s Champions League defeat, with attention now turning to a crucial final Group Stage clash against Beijing Jingtan FC on Saturday.
After suffering a disappointing 2-0 loss to PFC Nasaf in its opening fixture, City bounced back in emphatic fashion on Wednesday, producing a stunning second-half display to defeat Kaya FC-Iloilo 7-0.
With all seven goals coming after the half-time break, the result was a welcome return to form for Michael Matricciani’s side.
For Stott, the performance was exactly the response the squad needed after a frustrating start to its continental campaign.
“We were disappointed with the way we started the tournament against Nasaf, so we knew we had to respond and put in a much better performance against Kaya,” Stott said.
“I thought we showed some really positive signs in the first half, but we just couldn’t find that final touch. To come out after half-time and score seven goals was an incredible response from the whole group.”
Kelli McGroarty, Melina Ayres and Cortnee Vine all recorded braces in the commanding win, while Momo Hayashi also found the back of the net with her third goal of the 2026/27 season.
The performance was another encouraging sign for City’s new-look squad, with several players continuing to make their mark in their first AFC Women’s Champions League campaign.
Having undergone significant changes over the off-season, Stott believes the squad is continuing to build chemistry with every match.
“We’ve got a lot of new faces in the squad this season, and I think we’re starting to see those combinations come together more and more with every game,” she said.
“It’s exciting to see different players stepping up and contributing, and I think the depth we’ve got in this group is going to be really important as we move forward.”
While Wednesday’s result provided a much-needed confidence boost, City knows an even bigger challenge awaits in its final Group C fixture.
Standing in its way is reigning Chinese Women’s Super League champion Beijing Jingtan FC, who will enter Saturday’s contest unbeaten in the Group Stage.
With a home Quarter Final still in sight, City remains determined to give itself the best possible chance of finishing on top of the group.
For Stott, the focus is firmly on producing another strong performance and finishing the Group Stage on a high.
“We know Beijing is going to be a really tough opponent. They’re a quality side, and we’ll need to be at our best if we want to get a result,” she said.
“We would’ve loved to have started the tournament with three points, but we can’t change that now. What we can control is how we approach this final game and making sure we give absolutely everything.”
Having reached the Final in its inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League campaign before progressing to the Semi Finals last season, City is determined to continue its strong continental record.
And while the path to another home Quarter Final may be challenging, Stott insists the squad remains focused on what it can control.
“We’ve had some really special moments in this competition over the last two seasons, and we want to keep creating those memories together,” she said.
“We know what’s at stake on Saturday, and the whole group is determined to finish the Group Stage as strongly as possible. We’ll give everything we’ve got and see where that takes us.”
Match Details
AFC Women’s Champions League Group Stage: Matchday 3
Melbourne City FC v Beijing Jingtan FC
Saturday 7 November
9:30pm AEDT
Markaziy Stadium, Qarshi
