A Kennedy White inspired Melbourne Victory showcased their credentials for another Premiership tilt as they came from behind to beat Western Sydney Wanderers and claim their first Ninja A-League Women’s win of the 2025/26 campaign on Sunday afternoon.
The three-point return was the perfect reaction to last weekend’s season-opening loss at Brisbane Roar and provided a fitting outcome to Jeff Hopkins’ 200th game as a head coach in the competition.
Danika Matos’ close-range effort had the hosts in front early on at Wanderers Football Park, but this deficit was emphatically wiped out courtesy of a rapid-fire hat-trick from White, with the forward grabbing three unanswered goals across just 10 minutes of match action to make it four strikes in two games, having also netted away to the Roar.
An A-Leagues rookie, following a summer move from Hungarian outfit Győri ETO FC, the American produced the level of offensive performance typically reserved for seasoned strikers. White finished with real guile off either boot during the first half before displaying predatory instincts to make the matchball her own shortly after the break.
Zoe McMeeken, fresh from supplying Victory’s third of the afternoon, then added her own name to the scoresheet seven minutes from time to ensure the history books will accurately reflect the away team’s overall dominance in the 22nd meeting between the two sides.
Team News
Hopkins made two changes to the team that started the season opener away to Brisbane. Claudia Bunge, having come off the bench in Queensland, and Grace Maher, a late withdrawal, were in from the first whistle, meaning Laura Pickett dropped to the bench and Fiorina Iaria missed out on the match-day squad.
Match Action
Engaged in a midfield deadlock and littered with the exchanging of loose passes, there was very little on display in the opening stages to suggest that Victory would end the first half in front.
And this theory was given further momentum when Western Sydney, having already threatened from a wide set piece, stylishly took the lead inside a quarter of an hour. Amy Chessari played a defence-splitting pass to release Ella Buchanan into the left side of the penalty area, and she had the presence of mind to fire the ball across goal, where defender Matos had the simplest of conversions from close range.
It was very nearly two for the Wander Women midway through the period when Holly Caspers advanced down the right. Her cross-shot was travelling and clattered the crossbar, with replays showing that a finger-tip intervention from goalkeeper Courtney Newbon had sent the effort onto the woodwork.
This close call, combined with the early concession, clearly angered the visitors, and from that moment onwards, it was one-way traffic. The challenge, though, was breaking down two well-constructed lines of red and black shirts, and when Holly Furphy appeared in the clear, Poppie Hook’s last-ditch challenge suggested such fortitude would continue to deny Victory.
Instead, it was a warning sign that the hosts failed to read, and they were soon caught sleeping at the back. Newbon’s heave upfield gave White something to pursue, and after racing onto possession, she coolly gave a recovering defender the slip before stroking the ball home under Shamiran Khamis’ dive.
The 25-year-old’s left-footed strike was soon paired with a right-footed one, as the turnaround was completed during injury time. Again running the channel, White was released by Furphy and only needed one touch to set herself ahead of conjuring a second unerring finish.
Half-time: Western Sydney Wanderers 1-2 Melbourne Victory
If White’s first-half brace owed a lot to her willingness to stretch the hosts’ defence, then the goal which completed her first A-Leagues hat-trick, on just her second appearance in the competition, was all about operating between the margins of the penalty box.
Zoe McMeeken’s flashing centre was, in truth, as much about identifying a goal-scoring area as it was picking out a Victory shirt, but when her attacking teammate possesses a sixth sense when it comes to popping up in these, it goes down as the perfect assist to White’s tap-in.
The advantage should have been swiftly reduced, but Ena Harada, staring down the goal from a central position 16 yards out, fired over the top. Western Sydney were then fortunate that Rachel Lowe’s radar was also off, as she failed to make the most of Sofia Sakalis’ floated through ball.
White’s radar was firmly on, however, and even when her brave header cannoned back off the goal frame, it ended up in the back of the net thanks to the sharp reactions of McMeeken being on hand to nod home.
It was also a day to remember for Poppy O’Keeffe, who made her senior debut late in the second half.
Match Details
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (MATOS 13′)
Melbourne Victory 4 (WHITE 41′, 45+1′, 48′), MCMEEKEN 83′)
Western Sydney Wanderers XI: 20. Shamiran KHAMIS (GK), 4. Poppie HOOKS, 6. Amy CHESSARI, 7. Amy HARRISON (C), 8. Olivia PRICE (24. Nikkita FAZZARI 64′), 11. Danika MATOS (13. Alvina KHOSHABA 84′), 14. Ella BUCHANAN, 17. Allyssa Ng-SAAD, 22. Alana CERNE, 25. Holly CASPERS (9. Seoun KIM 64′), 37. Ena HARADA
Substitutes not used: 12. Brianna EDWARDS (GK), 2. Janae DEFAZIO, 19. Talia YOUNIS
Booking: YOUNIS 89′.
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 1. Courtney NEWBON (GK), 66. Alana JANČEVSKI, 18. Kayla MORRISON (C), 3. Claudia BUNGE, 19. Zoe McMEEKEN, 9. Holly FURPHY, 81, Grace MAHER (27. Rosie CURTIS 68′), 23. Rachel LOWE (17. Poppy O’KEEFFE 90+2′), 5. Sofia SAKALIS (28. Sienna TECHERA 84′), 16. Kennedy WHITE, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA.
Substitutes not used: 30. Payton WOODWARD (GK), 24. Laura PICKETT, 41. Jessica YOUNG.
Booking: None.
Coming Soon
Victory’s home campaign begins on Saturday, November 15, kick-off 5pm AEDT, with a Grand Final rematch as the Central Coast Mariners visit the Home of the Matildas.
