Lynn Williams’ arrival is a further indication of Melbourne Victory’s intentions to go back-to-back in the Liberty A-League this season.
Prior to Sunday’s 5-1 win over Adelaide United, Victory confirmed the signing of United States international Williams on a loan deal as a guest player.
Having already retained the core of the Championship-winning squad, Victory looks primed for another huge season under Head Coach Jeff Hopkins.
Already blessed with attacking talent in Kyra Cooney-Cross, Melina Ayres and Catherine Zimmerman, Victory is further strengthened thanks to the arrival of Williams.
The 28-year-old has been a prolific goalscorer throughout her career in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
A three-time NWSL champion, Williams is one of the league’s greats, scoring 56 times in 115 appearances.
Williams also enjoyed a stellar five-game stint with the Western Sydney Wanderers in the Liberty A-League in 2019/20, netting four goals, including an equaliser in a draw with Victory in Morwell.
A 45-time USA international, Williams also has 14 goals for her country and helped it win bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.
Victory was without Williams and Ayres on Sunday, yet still opened the campaign with a comprehensive win over Adelaide United at AAMI Park.
An injury to captain Kayla Morrison soured the win, but Hopkins and his players are expecting better than the performance they produced against the Reds.
Williams arrives at Victory on the back of two strong performances for the USA against Australia in New South Wales.
She set up the game’s opener in a 3-0 USA win in Sydney before producing an excellent display in the 1-1 draw in Newcastle, starting both of those matches on the left side of attack.
Victory was helped to the Championship last season by a balanced team and squad, with the defence shining and the attack delivering.
Cooney-Cross, Ayres and Zimmerman combined to score 20 of Victory’s 32 goals, the former finding the winner directly from a corner in the Grand Final success over Sydney FC.
But they get further support with the addition of Williams, who has excellent pace and is a good finisher, giving Victory yet more quality in the attacking third and boosting hopes of another successful season.
