Melbourne Victory suffered a late defeat to Melbourne City on Tuesday afternoon in Round 10 of the Ninja A-League.
Jeff Hopkins’ team were in pole position for a Christmas Derby triumph thanks to Rhianna Pollicina’s 32nd-minute goal.
The midfielder’s fifth strike of her debut season in navy blue was, however, cancelled out by an unfortunate Claudia Bunge own goal midway through the second half.
City’s winner came through Holly McNamara in the 82nd minute, with the forward latching onto Deven Jackson’s free kick.
Team News
Hopkins named an unchanged starting XI from Friday night’s 3-1 success at Newcastle Jets. Changes did come on the bench, though, with the late withdrawals of Nicki Flannery and Grace Maher meaning Sienna Saveska, for the first time since signing during the off-season, and Jessica Young were among the available substitutes.
Match Action
There was little action of note during the opening quarter of an hour at a sun-soaked AAMI Park. When the game did open up, it was Victory who had the first attacking moment, but Pollicina’s final touch betrayed her when she was threaded through by Sofia Sakalis.
City responded by twice taking aim at Courtney Newbon’s goal. The first, a speculative effort from Leah Davidson, after she pinched possession from Kayla Morrison, was pushed behind by the goalkeeper before Leticia McKenna, having neatly cut inside, lashed wide.
The second chance had required a bit more composure, something that was not lacking in the effort which put Victory in front. Jancevski displayed exceptional vision to pick out Pollicina inside the penalty area, who collected possession, evaded Rebekah Stott and snuck the ball in, via a brush with the near post, from an acute angle.
Netting her fifth goal of the campaign in just her ninth outing for Victory, it was a sweet moment for the 28-year-old against her former team.
Half-time: Melbourne City 0-1 Melbourne Victory
Victory went after a second following the restart. Holly Furphy’s searching cross was of interest, although it proved to be just a fraction high for Kennedy White to head on target.
At the other end, City were probing without penetrating, and Alexia Apostolakis’ volleyed attempt from a half-cleared free kick bounced harmlessly wide.
Unfortunately, in the 65th minute, the home team forced an equaliser. Aideen Keane went around the outside of Jancevski, and her low cross was inadvertently diverted into the net by Bunge.
10 minutes later, there was a chance for Hopkins’ side to retake the lead. Furphy progressed proactively down the right wing and swept the ball square, where the arriving Sofia Sakalis could not keep her shot down.
As both teams searched for a winner, Keane whizzed a curler past the far post, and City would go one better six minutes from time.
Jackson angled a free kick away from the cluster of players inside the penalty area, allowing McNamara to avoid traffic, control the set piece and finish left-footed.
While Hopkins would introduce youngsters Sienna Techera, Rosie Curtis, Ella O’Grady and most notably Sienna Saveska, making her debut in navy blue, across the final stretch of the match, it would be City to prevail as winners on the day.
Match Details
Melbourne City 2 (BUNGE (O.G) 65′, MCNAMARA 84′)
Melbourne Victory 1 (POLLICINA 32′)
Melbourne City starting XI: 24. Malena MIERES (GK), 3. Danielle TURNER, 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia MCKENNA, 7. Danella BUTRUS (16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN 67′), 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 9. Holly MCNAMARA, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 15. Chinaza UCHENDU (11. Deven JACKSON 83′), 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 21. Aideen KEANE (2. Ellie WILSON 90+6′).
Substitutes not used: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 10. Izabella RAKO, 19. Keira SARRIS.
Booking: OTTO 90+4′.
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 1. Courtney NEWBON (GK), 18. Kayla MORRISON (C), 6. Taylor RAY (28. Sienna TECHERA 80′), 3. Claudia BUNGE, 66. Alana JANCEVSKI, 23. Rachel LOWE, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA (8. Sienna SAVESKA 90+2′), 24. Laura PICKETT (7. Ella O’GRADY 89′), 5. Sofia SAKALIS (27. Rosie CURTIS 80′), 9. Holly FURPHY, 16. Kennedy WHITE.
Substitutes not used: 30. Payton WOODWARD (GK), 41. Jessica YOUNG.
Booking: MORRISON 88′.
Coming Soon
2025 concludes with another away fixture – Victory travel to Central Coast Mariners on Saturday, December 27, kick-off 5pm AEDT. The Girls in Blue are back in Melbourne for a clash with Brisbane Roar on the second weekend of January.
