Melbourne City secured another home AFC Women’s Champions League Quarter Final with a dramatic 2-0 victory over Beijing Jingtan FC on Saturday night.
Heading into our final Group Stage fixture knowing a win by two or more goals would guarantee a home quarter-final, Michael Matricciani’s side got off to the perfect start through an early Melina Ayres penalty.
But with City still holding a slender one-goal advantage heading into the closing stages, it was Aideen Keane who delivered the decisive moment, striking in the 89th minute to secure a huge result and ensure knockout football will return to Melbourne.
Team News
Matricciani made two changes from our big midweek win over Kaya FC-Iloilo, with Cortnee Vine cleared to start after coming off the bench due to illness during the week, while Karly Roestbakken also returned to the XI.
Starting XI: 24. Malena MIERES (GK), 5. Aimee MEDWIN, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 8. Momo HAYASHI, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 22. Taylor RAY, 12. Shelby McMAHON, 11. Deven JACKSON, 21. Aideen KEANE, 9. Cortnee VINE, 14. Melina AYRES.
Substitutes: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 28. Gemma RADIPITSE (GK), 3. Danielle TURNER, 4. Jessika NASH, 7. Princess IBINI, 10. Avaani PRAKASH, 15. Tully HEATLEY, 20. Kelli McGROARTY, 26. Izabella RAKO, 27. Chelsea BIGGS.
What happened?
With plenty on the line in our final Group Stage fixture, City made a positive start in Uzbekistan, looking to take the game to Beijing from the opening whistle.
Melina Ayres was involved early, forcing goalkeeper Liu Chen into a save after being picked out by Aideen Keane.
And it wasn’t long before City found the breakthrough.
Awarded a penalty in the 14th minute, Ayres stepped up and confidently dispatched her spot kick into the bottom corner to give us an important early advantage.
Beijing responded strongly, though, with Malena Mieres called into action to deny Mahira Ali before Zhao Yujie struck the upright.
Ayres threatened again at the other end, while Deven Jackson also tested the Beijing goalkeeper as City looked to double our advantage.
The hosts continued to pose problems themselves, with Zhao hitting the woodwork for a second time deep into first-half stoppage time.
It meant City headed into the break leading 1-0, with plenty still to play for.
Beijing came out strongly after the restart, but Matricciani’s side continued to stand firm, with Mieres producing another important save to deny Liang Wei.
City remained a threat going forward, with Ayres seeing an effort blocked before Karly Roestbakken came close to adding a second, directing a header towards goal that was kept out by Liu Chen.
Kelli McGroarty was introduced for Jackson in the 70th minute as City continued searching for the goal that would secure a home quarter-final.
But Beijing weren’t going away.
With the hosts enjoying plenty of possession, Mieres was once again called upon to deny Saratou Traoré, while City continued to look for opportunities on the counterattack.
Rebekah Stott tried her luck from distance, and Momo Hayashi headed narrowly wide from a Taylor Ray corner as the clock continued to tick down.
With just minutes remaining, City were still holding on to a 1-0 lead.
Three points would have been a welcome result, but we needed one more goal to guarantee the home quarter-final we’d been chasing.
And in the 89th minute, Keane delivered.
Winning the ball near the halfway line, it was a fantastic solo effort from the City winger, driving forward and slotting home the all important goal to spark jubilant celebrations.
It was a massive moment, with the second goal putting Matricciani’s side in the position we needed to secure home advantage in the knockout stages.
There was still a little work to do, but City remained composed through stoppage time, seeing out the contest to complete a memorable 2-0 victory.
After three hard-fought Group Stage fixtures, we’d done enough to book our place in another AFC Women’s Champions League home Quarter Final!
What’s next?
After securing yet another AWCL home Quarter Final, we now turn our attention back to Ninja A-League duties – before resuming continental competition in late March next year.
We’ll play our first home fixture of the season next Saturday against Newcastle Jets!
Stay tuned for ticketing details, or become a City Member to ensure you’ve locked in your access.
