Melbourne Victory will have to overturn a Leg 1 deficit if they are to complete a Ninja A-League Finals Series Semi-Final success over Melbourne City.
Leticia McKenna’s 45th-minute free kick split the sides in a tight contest at AAMI Park on Saturday evening.
Victory went closest to scoring during the first half of the Melbourne Derby encounter, with Rachel Lowe’s impressive volley requiring a combination of Malena Mieres and the woodwork to stay out.
Team News
It was an unchanged starting XI from the Elimination Final win at Canberra United. The only change came on the bench, where Sienna Saveska returned in place of Sienna Techera.
Match Action
Following some cagey initial stages, characteristic of a high-stakes two-legged affair, each team started to have some success in the final third, albeit without scoring.
Lowe, reading the flight of a half-clearance, saw her dipping volley impressively pushed onto the crossbar by Mieres before Ella O’Grady was edged out of getting to the rebound.
At the other end, Bryleeh Henry was denied a clear effort at goal by a brave, full-flight Chelsea Blissett block, and Leah Davidson saw her headed follow-up palmed behind by Courtney Newbon.
Unfortunately, the goalkeeper would be beaten on the stroke of half-time, when McKenna’s free kick, awarded for a foul when Holly Furphy got some of the ball, snuck through Newbon’s clutches.
McNamara then had a penalty appeal waved away when clashing with a sliding Claudia Bunge in the area.
Half-time: Melbourne Victory 0-1 Melbourne City
The first big chance of the second 45 was a Victory run. Furphy persisted and pickpocketed Roestbakken, but saw her attempted lob denied by a leaping Mieres.
Hopkins’ side then had to face up to a City onslaught, standing strong as the Premiers pressed hard to strike again. Holly McNamara was foiled by Newbon, and Davidson snatched at a penalty box chance, lifting her shot over the top.
Looking to level matters, Nicki Flannery and Kennedy White, in separate changes, were introduced for O’Grady and Lowe, with this pair helping edge the visitors deeper as the clock ran down.
They would, however, encounter a stubborn Premiers outfit, leaving them with work to do in Leg 2.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory 0
Melbourne City 1 (MCKENNA 45′)
Melbourne Victory Starting XI: 1. Courtney NEWBON (GK), 24. Laura PICKETT, 3. Claudia BUNGE, 18. Kayla MORRISON (C), 4. Chelsea BLISSETT (66. Alana JANCEVSKI 87′), 6. Taylor RAY, 81. Grace MAHER, 23. Rachel LOWE (16. Kennedy WHITE 78′), 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 9. Holly FURPHY, 7. Ella O’GRADY (11. Nicki FLANNERY 63′)
Substitutes not used: 30. Payton WOODWARD (GK), 5. Sofia SAKALIS, 8. Sienna SAVESKA, 27. Rosie CURTIS.
Booking: FURPHY 44′.
Melbourne City Starting XI: 24. Malena MIERES (GK), 3. Danielle TURNER, 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia MCKENNA, 9. Holly MCNAMARA (14. Laura HUGHES 81′), 12. Shelby MCMAHON, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 21. Aideen KEANE (11. Deven JACKSON 86′), 22. Bryleeh HENRY (8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS 90+4).
Substitutes not used: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 25. Ayana AOYAGI (GK), 2. Ellie WILSON, 20. Caitlin KARIC.
Booking: KEANE 80′.
Coming Soon
The two teams will do it all again in a week to decide who reaches the 2026 Grand Final.
