Western United 2-1 Melbourne Victory
By Kieran Yap 22/10/2023
Above: Keiewa Hieda (right) and Jaclyn Sawicki (left) celebrate the late winner for Western United. Photo: Western United.
Western United came from a goal down to defeat Melbourne Victory with a dramatic late winner at City Vista. The win gives last season’s runners up their first points of the season and leaves Victory with two defeats from the first two rounds.
Windy conditions made every aerial ball a gamble for defenders and Victory were first to benefit when Emma Checker nodded home from a corner early in the first half. Clear cut chances were hard to create for either side, but Victory enjoyed the majority of possession, with Paige Zois and Alana Murphy both controlling the centre of the pitch.
Western United’s best moments of attack came on the counter-attack, Kahli Johnson looked particularly dangerous and her performance had the added benefit of preventing Jessika Nash joining the visitors attack from fullback.
On the opposite flank, Stacey Papadopoulos pushed up in support of Hannah Keane who had drifted wide to keep Jamilla Rankin from bombing forward too easily.
Although Victory had their opponents on the back foot for much of the game, they were unable to create many clear cut chances. midfield control did not meant that Jaclyn Sawicki and the Taranto twins were willing to allow any easy passes to the attack.
Mckenzie Weinert’s defensive efforts on the wing for the visitors were matched by her willingness to shoot in the final third, but she was unable to trouble Alyssa Dall’Oste in the Western goal.
Western United drew level in the second half. Melissa Taranto bundled home from close range in the 66th minute after the Victory defence seemed to have lost track of an in swinging corner kick.
The equaliser seems to inject more urgency and spark into the game as both teams felt confident on scoring a second. Alana Murphy produced Victory’s best chance with a roulette spin in the centre of the park that momentarily unlocked Western United’s defence, but after a ball out wide to Jamilla Rankin who’s excellent cross was batted away by Dall’Oste.
As the game drew to a close, both sides made changes. Victory introduced last week’s goal scorer Ella O’Grady and Elise Kellond-Knight, Western made the most impactful change by introducing Keiwa Hieda
It was the Japanese winger who delivered the three points to the West with a 90th minute strike. Keane’s shot was too hot for Lydia Williams to handle and Hieda bundled the ball home on the line. It was her first A-League Women’s goal after lighting up the Victorian NPLW with Calder United and it condemned Victory to their second loss in as many weeks.
To make matters worse for Jeff Hopkin’ side, the goal came at an even larger cost. Williams remained down for an extended period after the goal and looked to be nursing a shoulder or arms injury as she left the field to be replaced by Miranda Templeman.
The Matildas legend was one of Victory’s big name recruits in the off season, and seen as a strong replacement for Casey Dumont. Fans of the league and the club will hope that she can recover quickly.
The win was an important one for Western United. On paper this was a difficult start to the season. This derby match fell between an opening day trip to Perth and a meeting with Melbourne City next week.
The win will give them momentum against a City side that has looked in control but not invulnerable in their first two matches.
Victory host Adelaide United and will do so in the unfamiliar position of being lower than them on the ladder. The Reds have stuttered slightly in their start to the season, facing similar struggles to Victory as larger numbers of new players develop chemistry. Round Three will take place after the International Break but will provide a test to see who has found their feet quicker.
Teams: Western United (4-4-2): Dall’Oste, Papadopoulos, Cerne, Maher, Vlajnic, M Taranto, Sawicki, A Taranto, Logarzo, Johnson, Keane. Substitutes: Robers, Hieda, Richards, Sardo, Picak.
Scorers: M Taranto 66’ Hieda 90’
MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-3-3): Williams, Nash, Morrison, Checker, Rankin, Murphy, Zois, Lowe, Weinert, Goad, Okino. Substitutes: D’Appolonia, O’Grady, Templeman, Kellond-Knight, Breidis
Scorer: Checker 15’
Referee: Georgia Ghiradello
Attendance: TBC
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