Melbourne City has issued a warning to their opponents in the A-League Women
In This Article
Melbourne City are still in contention for the A-League Women’s Premiership, and their 4-0 win against Perth Glory in Gosford has dealt a major blow to Perth’s playoffs aspirations.
City took the lead on the stroke of halftime thanks to Rhianna Pollicina’s half-volley, before Holly McNamara scored a brace in the second half and Hannah Wilkinson added a 94th-minute dagger to win the victory.
It broke Perth’s five-game winning streak and kept second-placed City in touch with leaders Sydney FC, despite the absence of New Zealand internationals Wilkinson and Rebekah Stott for the next two games.
McNamara told Paramount Plus, “It was a grind.”
“Credit to Perth because that was a hard game. We didn’t play our best football but we definitely fought out that win.”
Before City settled, Perth had a flurry of unrewarded shots.
Pollicina battled back from a half-hour knee injury, and three minutes into stoppage time, Wilkinson headed a long ball into the path of the playmaker, who chested the ball down and half-volleyed home coolly.
In the 61st minute, Perth failed to bundle in a goalmouth scramble, and City counterattacked quickly.
Barbieri hoofed the ball long, and Abbey Green fluffed her attempted clearing header right into the path of Matildas young gun McNamara, who burst forward and scored coolly beyond Courtney Newbon.
Perth substituted seasoned goal scorers Lisa De Vanna and Leena Khamis, but neither could spark a comeback.
After a quick turnaround following their win against Adelaide, the Glory were tired, and in the 88th minute, City replacement Leticia McKenna passed a delightful through ball to McNamara, who expertly chipped Newbon to complete her hat trick.
Wilkinson went away on the break six minutes later, beat Newbon, and coolly snatched City’s fourth goal, despite Perth’s offside shouts being denied.
Perth coach Alex Epakis remarked, “We came in with a really specific game plan which we could see was working for the first 40-50 minutes.”
“Then unfortunately the goal that we conceded just before half-time just meant that the second half we had to go forward a little bit more and go after them a little bit more. As a result that left us a little bit open in those transition moments
“I think 4-0 was an inflated scoreline, it probably wasn’t a 4-0 game but nonetheless credit’s got to go to City, they were good and we just weren’t as good today as what we can be.”
