Melbourne Victory 4-1 Western United
Report by Joe Rosedon with EXCLUSIVE photos from Adrian Geremia at The Home of the Matildas (17/11/24)
Above: Kayla Morrison (left) looks to keep Western United at bay as Alex Chidiac (right) looks on. Photo: Adrian Geremia for Impetus.
A first-half hattrick from Emily Gielnik powered Melbourne Victory to a hugely impressive win over cross-state rivals Western United. An outcome that lifted them to second in the ladder as a result.
Jeff Hopkins’ side could not have set the tone better, taking the lead in twelve seconds. Sloppy play from the visitors from the kick-off saw the ball given away far too cheaply. Victory took full advantage. A ball back over the top caught the Western defence out and Gielnik was away, accelerating past Alana Cerne and firing her side into a stunning early lead.
Gielnik was soon to have her second goal of the game and Western were the architects of their own downfall once again. A seemingly mundane back pass by Cerne to Alyssa Dall’Oste was pounced upon by Gielnik who was able to divert the goalkeeper’s clearance into the net to double the home side’s lead.
Western United began to fight back. Catherine Zimmerman’s ambitious long-range strike had Victory keeper Courtney Newbon struggling but a combination of crossbar and fingertips was enough to maintain Victory’s two goal lead.
The pressure however paid off soon after. An excellent Grace Maher corner was met by Zimmerman. Her header crept past Newbon, who would have felt she should have done better, to give the away side a route back into the game.
Western were back to square one just twenty minutes later. Alex Chidiac’s relentless pressing forced Western into giving up possession. Chidiac drove into the space, looked up, and slotted the ball through to Gielnik. She remained composed in front of goal, as she had done all afternoon, and completed her hattrick.
Nikki Flannery was inches away from giving Victory their fourth of the game in the opening stages of the second half. Her curled effort rattled the foot of the post and Gielnik’s follow-up was cleared off the line. At this stage, it seemed that Victory could run up a cricket score.
Yet, Western United still had life in them. Kahli Johnson caught Laura Pickett in possession high up the pitch, but her attempt just evaded the bottom right corner. Soon after, any chance of a famous comeback was out of sight for the visitors.
Sasha Grove was dispossessed by Beattie Goad. Her quick pass to Rachel Lowe was coupled with a first-time through ball from the midfielder that sent O’Grady away. The youngster showed remarkable calmness under pressure to score and seal a well-deserved three points for the home side.
For more of Adrian Geremia’s images from this match, plus photo galleries from three other A-League Women games this weekend, check out our Instagram page – @ImpetusFootball.
MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-3-3): Newbon, Wilson, Bunge, Goad, Morrison, Murphy, Chidiac, Lowe, Flannery, Gielnik, Jancevski. Substitutes: Candy, D’Appolonia, Briedis, Pickett, O’Grady.
Scorers: Gienik 1′, 9′, 41′. O’Grady 81′.
WESTERN UNITED (4-4-2): Dall’Oste, Grove, Maher, Cerne, Dehakiz, Roach, Eggesvik, Hieda, Zimmerman, Medwin, Johnson. Substitutes: Lincoln, Sardo, Taranto, Ibarguen, Cortellino.
Scorer: Zimmerman 20′.
Referee: Rachel Mitchenson.
Attendance: TBC.
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