Melbourne City 2-1 PFC Nasaf
by Alyce Collett (25/3/26)
Above: Melbourne City celebrate after Chinaza Uchendu (second from left) scored a late winner to send City through to the semi finals of the Asian Champions League. Photo: via AFC.
Melbourne City are through to the Semi Finals of the Women’s Asian Champions League after a 2-1 win over PFC Nasaf.
Melbourne City initially took the lead through Holly McNamara but the visitors did not make things easy for them and quickly equalised through Zarina Mamatkarimova. Then just as the match was looking like it was about to head into extra time, Chinaza Uchendu popped up and thundered home the match winner for the hosts.
PFC Nasaf did have a brief positive foray into attack off the kick off, but it was not long before the more highly fancied hosts took control of the match, controlling possession and therefore the tempo of the match.
However, despite only officially having two defenders on the pitch, the visitors put up a resolute defensive performance, with some midfielders dropping back to crowd the box.
Many of the usual suspects for City were lively early, including the likes of Bryleeh Henry down the wing and Laura Hughes working hard in the heart of midfield. Captain Rebekah Stott was also dishing off plenty of well placed through balls for the likes of Henry and McNamara.
Eventually City did break through for the opener through McNamara just before half time, who headed the ball home on the second time of asking after her first shot was blocked.
The City celebrations were quickly silenced though when PFC Nasaf quickly worked the ball into attack from the restart, and with a looping shot from Mamatkarimova that cleared all the City defenders and keeper Malena Mires and sailed into the back of the net for the equaliser.
Ultimately the scores remained at one all at half time, with both sides having plenty to think about ahead of the second half.
Momentum was pretty even for much of the second half, with much of the action being pretty free flowing and end to end.
City did have a number of close chances, but ultimately could not make any of them count.
This was perfectly encapsulated in one particular moment that happened with about 15 minutes to go, when Aideen Keane went for a run that was about half the pitch and got herself into a really promising position to score, but the shot ultimately bounced off the crossbar.
City continued to have the lion’s share of time in attack, but as the half progressed and the deadlock still could not be broken, extra time was becoming more and more likely.
However, with mere moments left in regular time, Uchendu popped up at the perfect time and after curling the ball around her body, then whacked a powerful shot into the back of the net, breaking the hearts of the PFC Nasaf players and their vocal fans in the process.
Teams: MELBOURNE CITY (4-3-3): Mieres, Stott, Otto, Turner, Roestbakken, Mckenna, McMahon, McNamara, Hughes, Keane, Henry. Substitutes: Wilson, Butrus, Apostolakis, Rako, Jackson, Jugovic, Davidson, Sarris, Barbieri, Uchendu, Aoyagi.
Scorers: McNamara 38’, Uchendu 89’
PFC NASAF (2-5-3): Khikmatova, Karachik, Yakimova, Shoyimova, Gulzoda, Zoirova, Johnimqulova, Mamatkarimova, Khabibullaeva, Kudratova, Tilovova. Substitutes: Egamberdieva, Nurullaeva, Tosheva, Khusniddinova, Saidova.
Scorers: Mamatkarimova 42’
Referee: Yamashita Yoshimi (Japan)
Attendance: 572.
Follow Impetus on social media:
@ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram and TikTok.
impetusfootball.org 