Melbourne City 2-0 Newcastle Jets
by Jonathon Hagger (10/3/24)
Above: Hannah Wilkinson (left) who scored two goals in five minutes, celebrates with her teammates today. Photo: Melbourne City.
Melbourne City returned to winning ways thanks to two goals in quick succession after the half-time interval from New Zealand international Hannah Wilkinson.
The outcome was desperately disappointing for Newcastle, who went into the encounter at the City Football Academy Field needing a good result to break the three-way tie for sixth place.
Following a 60 minute delay to kickoff due to severe heat conditions, the match was played conservatively as the teams sought to survive the blazing battle. However, neither were able to prise open the opposition’s defensive structures. The opening 15 minutes followed a repeating pattern of City being put under pressure by the Jets forwards, pinning them down in their own half, with the pressure being released via long passes and the City forwards launching offence through the fast break.
Given the agreement by each team to have drinks breaks every 15 minutes, as precautionary measures in the 35-degree heat, the short break allowed each team a minute to regroup. A change of momentum occurred with City becoming the more dominant side. The hosts ramped up their physicality in the tackle and speed on attack. Interestingly the officials were comfortable letting some niggle come into the match with a handful of free-kick decisions being overlooked.
A phenomenal corner kick to the Jets in the 32nd minute, delivered by Barbieri, was the first real opportunity for a goal. The flight of the ball deceived everyone and it pin-balled around just outside the City goalmouth and was finally cleared safely. There were a few heart flutters happening in that series of play!
Immediately after this in the 35th minute, The home side turned the tables, with Wilkinson finding herself unmarked and with acres of space to move in deep following a beautiful long pass by Stott. Finding herself deep inside the Jets half, Wilkinson stayed patient allowing her teammates time to move forward. A sharp little pass into traffic ended up at the feet of 16-year-old Kiera Meyers who initially thought she had recorded her first A-League goal, only to see it ruled out for offside after a consultation between referee Caitlin Williams and her assistant.
The battle of the midfields resumed with each team effectively closing down the passing channels for the other team. That was until the 39th minute when Libby Copus-Brown launched a beautiful long ball through to Sarina Bolden whose speed got her in behind her defender. Finding herself in clear air she launched a rocket of a shot that hit the crossbar and out of play. An unfortunate ending to a spectacular attack.
The first half came to a close with some impressive attacking efforts from the City forwards. Emina Ekic was in the mood, unleashing two shots on goal, but neither were able to beat the hands of Isobel Nino, the Jets’ very talented goalkeeper.
The second half started in a similar fashion. Both team’s midfields were strong through the middle, not allowing any free flow. City unleashed an attack down the right flank and through an assist from Bryleeh Henry, Wilkinson scored the first goal five minutes after the break.
Another five minutes passed and City repeated the same trick with a long ball forward to Henry, a snazzy pass to an unmarked Wilkinson and the ball went into the net. Two excellent goals set up superbly by Henry.
The Jets’ first promising attack play landed in the 69th minute as Hoban found Barbieri on a cutback pass who went searching for Bolden to connect with however the ball sailed past the City goal without causing too much fuss.
The tussle continued with each side showing glimmers of excellence through to the 80th minute when the Jets defenders watched Pollicina waltz through their line and fire a shot. Nino did very well closing down the attack however it was a goal that probably should have been scored.
With the final whistle quickly closing in, combined with an injection of fresh energy through substitutes, the Jets upped the ante and went searching for goals. It wasn’t as a dominant Melbourne City team deftly handled everything thrown at them.
Whether it was the score line or the effects of the high temperature, the Jets wilted beneath the heat of the Melbourne City challenge. With an impressive 80% passing completion average and two very good goals, City played themselves back into top form whereas the Jets continued their win-loss-win-loss pattern of matches in recent times.
Teams: MELBOURNE CITY (4-3-3): Barbara, Davidson, Stott, Otto, Roestbakken, Hughes, Meyers, Pollicina, Henry, Wilkinson, Ekic. Substitutes: Barbieri, Varley, Accardo, McKenna (63’), McMahon (68’).
Scorers: Wilkinson 50’, 55’.
NEWCASTLE JETS (3-4-3): Nino, Baumann, Prior, Karipidis, Davis, Dundas, Copus-Brown, Hoban, Barbieri, Bolden, Allan. Substitutes: Dunbar, Wilson (89’), Huynh (88’), Allan (84’), Hammond (71’).
Referee: Caitlin Williams.
Attendance: TBC.
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