Western Sydney Wanderers 1-4 Melbourne Victory
by Emma Burke (9/11/25)
Above: Melbourne Victory hat-trick hero Kennedy White (centre) celebrates earlier today. Photo: A-Leagues.
It was American international Kennedy White that stole the show at Wanderers Football Park, scoring a hat-trick to power Melbourne Victory to a 4-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers, their first of the 2025/26 season.
While the home side were able to open the scoring early with a beautiful team goal that ended with Danika Matos putting the ball over the line, they were unable to fight back against the strength of Victory.
The visitors took their time to find their equaliser, with goalkeeper Courtney Newbon providing the assist. Striker Kennedy White was able to run onto her long pass, and slip free of her defender by pulling back, which allowed her the time and space to take a left-footed shot over Sham Khamis in goal.
White only took another six minutes to find her second goal for the afternoon, and the lead for her team, in the final minute of extra time in the first half, this time assisted by Rachel Lowe.
Following the half-time break, White picked up almost exactly where she left off, netting her third and final goal only minutes after play had restarted.
The Wanderers were able to wrestle back some control after White completed her hat-trick, and made a number of attempts on goal by players including Ella Buchanan, Ena Harada, and the Wanderers’ newest arrival from South Korea, Kim Soeun.
Unfortunately for the Wanderers, Victory were the ones to find the back of the net once again, making the most of a set piece that saw Zoe McMeeken, who joined the Navy Blues in the offseason from Wellington Phoenix, score her first for her new team.
Taking all the points, Victory jump to third on the table, and will head home to host Central Coast Mariners, in a replay of last season’s Grand Final game, while the Wanderers hit the road to face top of the table Brisbane Roar in Round Three.
Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (3-4-2-1): Khamis, Cerne, Hooks, Buchanan, Matos (Khoshaba 84’), Harada (Younis 63’), Chessari, Ng-Saad, Price (Fazzari 64’), Harrison (DeFazio 73’), Caspers (Soeun 64’).
Scorer: Matos 13’.
MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-2-2-2): Newbon, Jancevski, Morrison, Bunge, McMeeken, Maher (Curtis 68’), Lowe (O’Keeffe 90+2’), Furphy, Sakalis (Techera 84’), White, Pollicina.
Scorers: White 41’, 45+1’, 48’. McMeeken 84’.
Referee: Abbie Hendry.
Attendance: 986.
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