A brave Melbourne Victory was edged 1-0 by City in their Westfield W-League Derby clash at AAMI Park on Friday.
Victory had its chances but an 82nd-minute header from Rebekah Stott ended up separating the teams in the Round 2 encounter.
The result marked Victory’s first defeat of the campaign, having opened the season with a win over Canberra United.
City enjoyed the majority of possession and created a couple of chances in the opening half-hour.
After Kristen McNabb denied Jess Fishlock with a last-ditch challenge, Victory goalkeeper Casey Dumont made a brilliant save to keep out Yukari Kinga.
But the end of the half belonged to Victory.
Jeon Ga-eul, on debut, almost opened the scoring with a looping header, which was tipped over by Lydia Williams.
Gulcan Koca and Natasha Dowie were denied in a goalmouth scramble before the latter narrowly missed out on getting on the end of a corner.
It was an end-to-end opening to the second half as both teams had their chances.
Jeon forced Williams into a save, while Dumont denied Larissa Crummer and Fishlock.
City also hit the crossbar through Ashley Hatch before the encounter return to its more familiar tempo.
But City opened the scoring through Stott, who headed in a Rhali Dobson cross at the back post.
Victory went close through the impressive Kyra Cooney-Cross and Laura Alleway from a corner, while Dumont produced a stunning save to keep out a Fishlock strike in the closing stages.
Victory has a bye in Round 3, returning to action with a trip to Perth Glory on Sunday, November 19.
Westfield W-League 2017/18 Round 2
City 1 (Rebekah Stott 82′)
Melbourne Victory 0
