Melbourne City 3-0 Newcastle Jets
Melbourne City win 6-0 on aggregate.
By Kieran Yap 28/4/24
Above: Melissa Barbieri celebrates Melbourne City’s win after the final whistle. Photo: Melbourne City
Melbourne City have advanced to the A-League Women Grand Final with a 3-0 win in the second leg of their semi final against the Newcastle Jets. Goals to Rhianna Pollicina, Hannah Wilkinson, and Leticia McKenna secured the win, with Newcastle left to rue some early missed chances.
The Jets arrived in Melbourne with a monumental task, to score at least three goals while conceding none against the league premiers. Coach Ryan Campbell’s intentions were clear from the kick-off with Melina Ayres, Sarina Bolden, and Lara Gooch all starting. They were supported by MelindaJ Barbieri and Lauren Allan. All the chips were on the table and Newcastle left no room for caution.
City made some adjustments. Wilkinson returned to the starting XI and Julia Grosso replaced Karly Røstbakken at left back. Naomi Chinnama was back in the squad to give City some defensive depth.
The day could have been so different so easily. Newcastle came out of the gates at full throttle. Allan, Ayres, and Bolden all had close-range chances in the one early passage of play, while Bolden was once again denied by Barbara in goal when she had almost too much time to pick her spot.
The Jets continued to probe and press for the first 20 minutes with both Gooch and Ayres coming close again but suffered a blow when Melbourne City scored to make the challenge ahead of them almost insurmountable.
Daniela Galic created some space for herself on the edge of the area and poked a pass into the path of Rhianna Pollicina to fire home. Following the goal, City started to control the game, and while Newcastle continued to press aggressively, Dario Vidosic’s side passed through the midfield with relative ease to create chance after chance at the other end.
Emina Ekic and Grosso were menacing if slightly wasteful on the left flank, while Bryleeh Henry continued to impress in her new role as an attacking right back. Galic, and Pollicina rotated positions in the final third to create openings. Although Newcastle had been unlucky not to score first, they went into the break fortunate to be only one goal down.
When Wilkinson found the net in the second half it was 5-0 on aggregate and 2-0 on the day. She beat Nino to the ball after Ekic’s cross and effectively ended the tie as a contest. Substitute Leticia McKenna completed the scoring in the 70th minute underlining the firepower that Vidosic has at his disposal.
City were able to show off their impressive squad in the later stages of the game. Henry shifted into attack. Ekic swapped flanks and Chinnama came on to preserve the win. Even without star playmaker Galic or goal scorer Wilkinson, City continued to create chances and could have had one or two more.
Melbourne City will host Sydney FC next Saturday at AAMI Park, and it will be an intriguing contest. City have returned to peak form and has a plethora of goal-scoring options to choose from. Unlike last season, they have been able to beat other finals teams in the home and away campaign, and are an improved, faster, and more confident side than in 2022/23.
Six goals across the last two games from six different goal scorers is in stark contrast to Sydney FC who have struggled to find a reliable source of goals this season.
Mackenzie Hawkesby was their only scorer in the two legs of the semi-final. Although The Mariners are a much more defensively strong side than Newcastle, and Ante Juric’s side can rely on the threat of Cortnee Vine, City will have no reason to fear the defending champions and can have every confidence in their game plan no matter who they put on the pitch. The only downside to this game was an injury to goalkeeper Barbara who ended the game in the hands of medics. It could mean another moment of glory for Matildas legend Melissa Barbieri.
It was a strong display in the semi-final second leg, which will make for an interesting Grand Final. The top two sides are facing off at the end to the biggest A-League Women season yet.
Teams: MELBOURNE CITY (4-2-2-2): Barbara, Grosso, Stott, Otto, Henry, Pollicina, Hughes, Davidson, Ekic, Galic, Wilkinson. Substitutes: Barbieri, Chinnama, L Mckenna, McMahon, Karic.
Scorers: Pollicina 26’, Wilkinson 67’, L. McKenna 70’.
NEWCASTLE JETS (3-4-1-2): Nino, Wilson, Prior, Baumann, Allan, Copus-Brown, Davis, Gooch, Barbieri, Ayres Bolden. Substitutes: Huynh, Dundas, Robertson, Hammond, Hoban.
Referee: Rebecca Durcau.
Attendance: TBD.
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