By Emma Burke 13/11/23
Melbourne City 4-3 Western Sydney Wanderers
Above: Holly McNamara (9) celebrates after scoring her second of the match. Photo: Melbourne City Instagram.
Melbourne City took home all three points in their 4-3 thrilling win at AAMI Park against Western Sydney Wanderers, with Holly McNamara scoring her first hattrick in the A-League Women’s final game for round four.
The only goal that McNamara didn’t score was the opening one, but she was the direct result of it. Rhianna Pollicina expertly put away her third goal of the season from the penalty spot after McNamara was taken down.
City’s second goal came after the Wanderers made the mistake of leaving Kaitlyn Torpey with space outside of the box. Her shot was strong, but just off target as it bounced back off the bar. Pollicina looked for seconds, but her chance was bodily blocked. Third time was truly the charm, however, as McNamara found the ball at her feet, a moment of patience was all she needed and what she took before sending the ball off her right foot, past Wanderers’ keeper Sham Khamis.
WSW found their way back into the game when Cushla Rue released Sophie Harding just outside the top of the box. Harding’s turn and shot beat multiple defenders in blue, and left goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx diving to her right, but ultimately was unable to do anything to stop the ball reaching the back of the net.
The second half opened with a succession of City goals, both attributed to McNamara. The first of which saw her released by Hannah Wilkinson, McNamara was able to drive around Shan Khamis, who had come off her line to try to intervene, and then put a left-footed ball into the back of the net.
McNamara’s final goal of the game saw the completion of her perfect hattrick. A header, delivered by Pollicina off a corner that was easily redirected past the keeper.
As City stood over the Wanderers with a 4-1 lead, it looked as if the game was more than over. However, this is the A-League Women’s, a game is never over until the final whistle blows.
Minutes after City’s fourth goal, Western Sydney Wanderers found their second goal and turned on their comeback campaign.
A corner kick delivered expertly by Alexia Apostolakis found the head of Holly Caspers, the shot on target, and was palmed away by Proulx, but only as far as Vicky Bruce, an American International, who put the ball soundly away for WSW’s second goal of the game, and her second of the season.
Wanderers’ third goal came through almost identically to their second, another corner delivery that resulted in a header that was initially saved but not held on to. Harding came through with the seconds this time around, making no mistake and bringing them within a goal of equalising.
It was a nervous final fifteen minutes of regular time, and it seemed like there was still a goal left to be scored.
It was a further nerve-wracking nine minutes of extra time for City, with the Wanderers coming close to finding the equaliser in the final minute of play.
Proulx came off her line once again to parry away a cross, but in doing so, sent the ball to the feet of Bethany Gordon outside the box. Proulx couldn’t make her way back to her line, but luckily for City, substitute Naomi Chinnama was there in her place and headed the ball away from spoiling City’s afternoon.
Western Sydney picked up their third loss for the season, while City were able to take all three points and continue their unbeaten streak.
MELBOURNE CITY (4-4-2): Proulx, Torpey, Stott, Otto (Acardo 88’), Grosso, Hughes (Chinnama 84’), McKenna, Galic (Ekic 75’), McNamara (Meyers 75’), Wilkinson
SCORERS: Pollicina 26’ (P), McNamara 32’, 58’, 64,
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-4-2): Khamis, Matos, Bruce, McComasky, Apostolakiss, Gordon, Chessari(Breier 79’), Harrison, Price, Harding (Ferris 87’), Rue
Scorers: Harding 43’, 74’, Bruce 69’
Referee: Isabella Libri
Attendance: 2010
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