Melbourne City 3-1 Canberra United
by Alyce Collett (15/3/26)
Above: Laura Hughes (left) and Chinaza Uchendu (right) celebrate during Melbourne City’s win over Canberra United this afternoon. Photo: via the A-Leagues.
Melbourne City gave coach Michael Matricciani the perfect birthday present after picking up a 3-1 win over Canberra United this afternoon. A brace from Chinaza Uchendu complimented an earlier goal from Aideen Keane to help get City over the line. Bethany Gordon managed to get one back late for the visitors but it ultimately was not enough.
Canberra actually started the game very positively, with the visitors spending the majority of the time early in their attacking half.
Hayley Taylor-Young in particular was working hard up and down the left wing for Canberra, trying to propel her team forward. Josie Aulicino was also lively in attack.
However, as hard as Canberra tried they just could not work the ball past City’s defensive line, which was very well positioned in a way that crowded the space for the opposition attackers but still gave themselves enough room to manoeuvre.
City also had a couple of attacking potential in the first half, but ultimately neither side could find the back of the net and went into the main break with plenty to think about ahead of the second half.
City finally broke the deadline just after the hour mark when Keane headed home a perfectly placed cross from Deven Jackson, which completely missed Canberra goal keeper Sally James who had come out to attack the ball.
City then extended their lead with a well hit goal from Uchendu, who had only been on the pitch mere moments before scoring. It was a well timed that went across goal and into the bottom corner.
Despite being two goals down Canberra was not going down without a fight, and Gordon popped up at the perfect time to score and breathe some life into the hopes of those in green. Barely a minute after Uchendu’s goal, Canberra found itself down in their attack and after some exceptional footwork around some defenders Gordon struck the ball beautifully into the back of the net. It ultimately did take a deflection off Taylor Otto, but the visitors were not complaining.
However, that momentum was snuffed out mere minutes later when Uchendu added a second goal for the afternoon. Her second goal showed off the incredible power she has in her shot, with the shot coming from outside the 18 yard box.
Teams: MELBOURNE CITY (4-4-2): Mieres, Turner, Otto, Stott, Apostolakis, Roestbakken, Davidson, McMahon, Henry, Jackson, Keane. Substitutes: Barbieri, Butrus, Hughes, Jugovic, Mckenna, Uchendu.
Scorers: Keane 61’, Uchendu 83’, 87’
CANBERRA UNITED (4-4-2): James, Malone, Taylor-Young, Robers, Sasaki, Gordon, Anton, Bertolissio, Christopherson, Hawkins, Aulicino. Substitutes: Dale, De Domizio, Grove, Majstorovic, McKenzie, Wardlow.
Scorers: Gordon 85’
Referee: Isabella Mossin.
Attendance: 595.
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