Melbourne City 2-0 Western Sydney Wanderers
By Kieran Yap 30/11/24
Above: Alexia Apostolakis (right) is congratulated for her late sealer against her former club. Photo: Tilly McDonald for Impetus
Melbourne City recorded a 2-0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers after an early goal to Mariana Speckmaier and a late strike by Alexia Apostolakis.
The score line flattered the Wanderers who were saved on multiple occasions by goalkeeper Sham Khamis.
The defending premiers named a full strength side at AAMI Park on Saturday afternoon. The visitors welcomed back one of last season’s stars in Holly Caspers. The playmaker recorded five goals and seven assists in 2023/24 but has missed the first month of this campaign through a knee injury.
Caspers started on the bench. That was not a huge surprise, but it was cause for a double take to see her joined by Sophie Harding.
The reigning Dolan Medalist was not included in the starting lineup. Robbie Hooker opted for youth in attack, a risky decision against the experience of Rebekah Stott and Taylor Otto.
City looked in control from the kickoff. Bryleeh Henry and Spexkmaier both had early chances that were thwarted hy Khamis. City’s Venezuelan striker continued to threaten and hit the woodwork twice before finally breaking the deadlock.
Western Sydney did not look overwhelmed, but not dud they appear in the contest. Their defence was merely holding on and booting the ball clear for distance, while the midfield struggled to track the mobile Leticia McKenna who pulled the string a in the middle and attack.
Bryleeh Henry celebrated her recent Matildas call up with her best performance this season. The City winger was aggressive, tricky and creative out wide and was unlucky not to break her scoring drought after she met a near post cross.
After half time, Harding and Caspers were introduced as Western Sydney searched for hope in attack. Harding immediately added spark, but Wanderers were still happy to sit back and absorb pressure, although they were only prevented from going further behind by bad finishing and good luck.
City passed as they pleased, and created chances with ease. It was clear that Western Sydney’s intention was to counter attack, but not only is that a challenge for a youthful lineup, it also brings into question how useful such tactics are for developing promising players, or how fair it is to ask a young side to effectively park the bus.
Talia Younis was the first Wanderer to register a shot on goal , well into the second half. Sienna Saveska tried her luck from range and Caspers almost broke free but both would have taken remarkable individual efforts to score.
City played the way they wanted to, and the way they dominated without Leah Davidson was a frightening sign to the rest of the competition.
At 1-0 up, they still needed a second goal to put the result to bed and had to wait until the 94th minute to be assured of a win.
Alexis Apostolakis stepped up to take a free kick just outside of the area and the deflected effort beat Khamis to make it 2-0.
After a week’s break, Western Sydney will host Western United, while Melbourne City will face a Canberra team that will surely offer more attacking intent.
Teams: MELBOURNE CITY (4-4-2:) Mieres, Apostolakis, Stott, Otto, Roestbakken, Henry, McKenna, Hughes, Speckmaier, Pollicina, Harvey. Substitutes: Accardo, Barbieri, Karic, McMahon, Meyers.
Scorers: Speckmaier 42’, Apostolakis 90+4’.
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS: (3-4-1-2) Khamis, Hayward, Harrison, Buchanan, Matos, Price, Chessari, Rue, Harada, Younis, Saveska. Substitutes: Bennett, Caspers, Harding, Ferris, Segavcic.
Referee: Caitlin Williams
Attendance: 2,097.
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