Western United 1-2 Melbourne Victory
By Kieran Yap 1/3/25
Above: Kayla Morrison scores the winner for Melbourne Victory. Photo: Ninja A-League.
Kayla Morrison starred at both ends of the pitch for Melbourne Victory as they fought out a 2-1 win against Western United.
Victory travelled to Tarneit to face the fourth placed Western United, with Kat Smith’s side in strong form and farewelling striker Kahli Johnson. The Golden Boot contender finalised a move to Calgary Wild in the newly formed Canadian league mid-week, and the home crowd were eager to send her off on a high.
Western have only lost once in their last seven games and posed a threat to Victory’s chase of league leaders Melbourne City. The home side were without Matildas goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln, but welcomed back Avaani Prakash after her strong displays for the Australian U20 side in the Four Nations Tournament.
Victory were without their newly capped Matildas midfielder. Alana Murphy was rested after her return from The She Believes Cup, with Jeff Hopkins using Rachel Lowe in a deeper role to compensate for Murphy’s absence and started Holly Furphy in attack.
That proved to be a fateful selection. Furphy opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a terrific finish following Alana Jancevski’s out swinging corner kick. The power behind the strike was outdone by its precision. Furphy’s effort flew into goal at the far post after a good touch to control and a second to rifle it home.
Western tried to wrestle back momentum, with Chloe Logarzo and Johnson both testing the Victory defence and Courtney Newbon in goal.
The home side looked more dangerous on the balance of play, but clear cut chances were rare and it took a fortunate but determined effort on goal to level the scores.
Another Western attack earned a corner late in the first half and Adriana Taranto’s set pice caused panic in the Victory defence. The ball bobbled off multiple Victory players before Emily Gielnik’s final touch helped it bobble over the line.
Victory re-took the lead almost immediately after the break. Another out swinger from Jancevski was thundered home by the head of Kayla Morrison. The Victory skipper rose highest and met the ball with perfect timing and technique to score what would be the decisive goal.
The game became a bit of an arm wrestle as it wore on, with neither team able to wrestle full control of proceedings. Victory were visibly missing Alana Murphy in the deep midfield role, and despite bringing on the likes of Prakash and Kiara de Domizio, Western United were unable to find a second goal.
The win keeps Victory in touch with Melbourne City and the premiership race while also keeping them ahead of the incredible consistent Adelaide United.
Western United’s defence will likely be disappointed to concede two goals from set pieces, but their back four otherwise kept Victory’s big name attack in check. Claudia Mihocic and Grace Maher won their battles with Gielnik, often forcing the centre forward wide which doubled to take up space that Nikki Flannery would have otherwise galloped through.
Morrison was imperious throughout this game. Victory may have conceded a scrappy goal, but the defence ensured that most of Western’s efforts on goal came from outside of the box.
Melbourne Victory will host Canberra United next week, while Western United will travel to play Perth Glory, and will now do so without the league and perhaps Australia’s most in-form centre forward.
Teams: WESTERN UNITED (4-3-3): Dall Oste, Sardo, Mihocic, Maher, Grove, Eggesvik, Logarzo, Dehakiz, Medwin, Johnson, A Taranto. Substitutes: De Domizio, Prakash, Hieda, Cerne, Picak.
Scorer: Gielnik (OG) 45′.
MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-3-3): Newbon, Curtis, Bunge, Morrison, Jancevski, Lowe, D’Appolonia, Chidiac, Furphy, Gielnik, Flannery. Substitutes: Wilson, O’Grady, Sakalis, Pickett, Candy.
Scorers: Furphy 10’, Morrison 47’.
Referee: Izzy Cooper.
Attendance: 897.
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