Western Sydney Wanderers 1-2 Melbourne City.
By Kieran Yap 23/3/26
Above: Melbourne City celebrate a goal against Western Sydney Wanderers. Photo: Melbourne City
Melbourne City have taken another step towards the premiership with a solid win at Wanderers Football Park. Leticia McKenna and Bryleeh Henry scored for the visitors, who managed to win despite being on the receiving end of a red card and a Talia Younis wonder-strike.
Melbourne City arrived in Sydney needing a win. They had lost to Adelaide United mid-week and the chasing pack have games in hand on the defending premiers. Holly McNamara came straight back into the squad the day after completing Matildas duty. Aideen Keane started on the bench with the front three consisting of Danella Butrus, Bryleeh Henry and Chinaza Uchendu.
Western Sydney have only pride to play for at this point of the season, but have looked good of late. A close loss to Melbourne Victory last week was a reminder that even though they sit near the bottom of the table, they are not a team to be taken lightly. City rotated, but did not rest the big guns.
The first major incident of the game was a surprising one. Uchendu was involved in a behind play incident with two Wanderers defenders, and was shown a straight red card. Before exiting the field she made her feelings clear to the taunting home fans and it looked to be advantage Wanderers.
If City considered this a setback, they did not show it. With almost the next attack, they took the lead. Leticia McKenna finishing well from inside the box after Dan Turner’s long cross eventually fell to her.
City doubled their lead before half time. McKenna was involved once again. Her cutback was met by the aggressive run of Henry who forced the ball home despite the presence of multiple Wanderers defenders.
Michael Matricciani managed the red cared well, pushing McKenna into a slightly more advanced role, to let her significant attacking abilities keep Wanderers on the back foot.
Aideen Keane was brought on at half time, her engine seen as an alternative to Butrus’s artistry.
Western Sydney eventually found a way back into the game, but it took something special. Talia Younis shot from 30 yards out to beat Melina Mieres with a spectacular, swerving drive. It will be a contender for goal of the year, and further solidifies the 17-year-old’s reputation as a rising star.
McKenna’s corner almost meant that City’s two-goal cushion was restored, but in the end, it was not needed, City held on for a crucial win that also qualifies them for next season’s Asian Champions League.
City end the round in top spot on the ladder, six points clear of Wellington and seven clear of Canberra United and Adelaide United. However, the story is far from over. The chasing pack still have games in hand, enough to catch them if they stumble in their final game against Newcastle Jets in a fortnight.
Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-3-3): Khamis, Cerne, Harrison, Hooks, Bennett, Chessari, Buchanan, Matos, Younis, Harada, Collins. Substitutes: Wang, Yuan, Ng Saad, Zumaya, Fazzari, Edwards.
Goals: Younis 53’
Melbourne City (4-3-3): Mieres, Roestbakken, Stott, Otto, Turner, McMahon, Davidson, Mckenna, Butrus, Henry, Uchendu. Substitutes: Barbieri, Apostolakis, Keane, Hughes, McNamara, Jackson.
Goals: Mckenna 34’ Henry 45’
Referee: Isabella Cooper
Attendance: 682
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