Melbourne City returned to winning ways with an impressive 4-0 victory over Canberra United at Seiffert Oval on Friday night.
Once again taking the armband, Rhianna Pollicina struck either side of half time before Maria Jose Rojas and Daniela Galic both got on the scoresheet late.
Team News
For the first time of the season, Dario Vidosic decided to change his starting XI. This came as City played its first of two matches in five days, while the team also was coming off its first loss of the season.
Chelsea Blissett and Leticia McKenna made their first starts of the season in place of attacking duo Daniela Galic and Emina Ekic.
Starting XI: 1. Sally JAMES (GK), 8. Kaitlyn TORPEY, 3. Naomi CHINNAMA, 14. Katie BOWEN, 7. Julia GROSSO, 4. Chelsea BLISSETT, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 6. Leticia MCKENNA, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 22. Bryleeh HENRY, 19. Maria Jose ROJAS.
Substitutes: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 13. Emina EKIC, 20. Caitlin KARIC, 21. Isabella ACCARDO, 24. Daniela GALIC.
What happened?
Neither team quite burst out of the blocks from the opening whistle, although as it often does, City enjoyed more of the possession early on.
City’s relentless pressing was again a feature, while Canberra allowed the visitors a little more time on the ball up the other end of the pitch.
Katie Bowen was important for City in the first half as the central defender tidied up everything at the back, plus also showed plenty of endeavour to drive the ball forward.
Michelle Heyman was threatening up front for the hosts and came just centimetres away from opening the scoring in the 25th minute. The striker was able to get her head onto a well-placed corner, but a great reflex save from Sally James ensured scores would stay level.
It would prove to be a pivotal moment in the contest, with City going up the other end to open scoring just moments later.
Naomi Chinnama spotted Rhianna Pollicina in space and played a lovely ball through the Canberra defence which the midfielder was able to put into the back of the net with a classy first-time finish.
Bryleeh Henry’s impressive work rate was on show just moments after the opener, tracking back defensively to get an important boot in to deny Heyman a chance at an instant equaliser.
Pollicina would go close again in the dying seconds of the first half, but this time Canberra goalkeeper Keeley Richards was able to pull off a fingertip save to keep the hosts in it at the break.
City’s number 10 picked up right where she left off in the second half and had her second of the night a little before the hour mark.
It was an opportunistic finish after Henry lost her footing in the box, leaving Pollicina to pick up the scraps and again find the back of the net with a classy strike.
After entering the pitch as a half-time sub, Daniela Galic didn’t take long to get involved in the action.
The 16-year-old had previously started every fixture so far this season, but only saw 45 minutes of action today with a quick turnaround approaching next Tuesday.
Galic showed she didn’t need long to make an impact, recording an assist and her first professional goal in what was an impressive cameo.
Blissett and Pollicina were both involved in the buildup of the third goal of the evening, before the latter found Galic on the edge of the box.
The young midfielder then showed her class, spotting Rojas in the box who added her fourth goal of the season with a cool first time finish.
It’s been coming since Round 1, but Galic then got her own name on the scoresheet for the first time in her professional career.
You won’t see many better debut goals either, with the 16-year-old finding the top left corner from outside the box after being found unmarked by Emina Ekic.
What’s next?
City will return home for its final clash of 2022 before enjoying almost a two week break before its next fixture. Tickets are on sale to Tuesday’s clash against Perth Glory at AAMI Park and you can click here to get yours now.
