1 week Ago By Joey Lynch
The race for the A-League Women Premiership will come down to the final round after table-toppers Melbourne City and second-placed Melbourne Victory picked up crucial wins. or signup to continue reading Entering the campaign's penultimate round on Friday evening two points clear, City thrashed a nine-player Newcastle 4-1 in the early kick-off to heap pressure on Victory, who then kept their faint hopes of usurping their rivals alive by beating Central Coast 1-0 Eleven clear of Victory on goal difference, City will head to Perth next Friday evening knowing a point is realistically all they need to secure back-to-back Premiers' Plates and a fourth premiership in their 10-year history. Hosting Brisbane the following afternoon, their rivals will need to hope the Glory can cause an upset and that they're then able to dispatch a Roar outfit that could need a win themselves to play finals football.
After surviving two chances from Jade Pennock in the opening half, Jeff Hopkins' side secured their all-important breakthrough in the 58th minute at Central Coast Stadium through Claudia Bunge. Shrugging off marker Sarah Rowe at the back post, the defender met an inswinging corner from Matildas midfielder Alex Chidiac with a well-directed header inside the post. In a nervy ending, Alana Murphy brought down Bianca Galic on the edge of the penalty area in the 89th minute but the resulting free kick from the hosts ended with Annabel Martin shooting straight at Courtney Newbon.
Things had been much more straightforward for City, with Holly McNamara firing them ahead in the 20th minute and, in the process, taking the lead in the Golden Boot race. The Matildas striker headed home her second of the game in the 33rd minute, sandwiched between the Jets' Sheridan Gallagher picking up a second yellow card in the 26th and Lorena Baumann seeing a straight red for kicking out at Karly Roestbakken on the stroke of halftime. Deven Jackson bounced a shot off defender Emilia Murray in the 67th minute to briefly halve the deficit but City responded with two quickfire goals to Rhianna Pollicina and Bryleeh Henry put the game to bed.
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