Rhianna Pollicina was Melbourne Victory’s matchwinner against Central Coast Mariners on a milestone occasion for the midfielder.
The 28-year-old broke the deadlock after 55 minutes at the Home of the Matildas, netting the rebound to a Rachel Lowe attempt on her 100th Ninja Women’s A-League appearance.
Pollicina’s finish was her second in three Victory appearances at the start of the 2025/26 season, having also netted in the Round 1 trip to Brisbane Roar.
Team News
Jeff Hopkins named the same starting XI that took apart Western Sydney Wanderers last weekend, but there was a change on the bench. Ella O’Grady was named among the substitutes, as Jessica Young missed out on the matchday squad.
Match Action
Alana Jančevski had Victory’s first shot in anger, moving onto the bits and pieces of an attack that started down the right, eventually broke out left, and the full-back fired it narrowly wide of the near post. That was, however, the only notable sight of goal for either side during the opening exchanges.
After half an hour, it was Central Coast’s turn to advance forward. But when Lorena Baumann’s cross was only half-cleared, Tess Quilligan’s shot was promptly charged down by Grace Maher.
The chess-like contest was not allowing any traffic through the midfield corridor, and the wide areas continued to be the route of access when Victory next probed. Holly Furphy’s centre was not able to find Kennedy White, and the opportunity fizzled out as the first 45 ended goalless.
Half-time: Melbourne Victory 0-0 Central Coast Mariners
From the word go, Victory were able to impose themselves more in the second half. And only seven minutes after the restart, Mariners’ goalkeeper, Sarah Langman, was merely a spectator when Pollicina let rip. Her dipping 25-yard drive had everything apart from some late curl to nestle inside the post.
Thankfully, the next time she had a sight of goal, there was no mistake. Lowe, having burst onto a deft White touch, saw her effort smothered by Langman, but Pollicina arrived promptly to sweep the ball past a cluster of recovering defenders and into the back of the net.
At the other end, Claudia Bunge did important work in ushering substitute Isabel Gomez away from goal as Courtney Newbon mopped up any potential danger. It was, though, Victory looking the more likely to strike again, and a moving Jančevski shot forced a solid stop out of the ‘keeper.
With the advantage only at one, Mariners refused to give up hope of a late salvage job in the Grand Final rematch. They rolled the dice, using all five permitted substitutions and throwing caution to the wind as time elapsed, but Victory, determined to use last Sunday’s success as a launchpad, stood firm to anything thrown at them.
Youngsters Sienna Techera and Rosie Curtis were introduced as Victory held strong, ultimately prevailing with all three points in their Round 3 home opener.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory 1 (POLLICINA 55′)
Central Coast Mariners 0
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 1. Courtney NEWBON (GK), 66. Alana JANČEVSKI, 18. Kayla MORRISON (C), 3. Claudia BUNGE, 19. Zoe McMEEKEN, 81. Grace MAHER (7. Rosie CURTIS 90′), 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 23. Rachel LOWE, 5. Sofia SAKALIS, 16. Kennedy WHITE, 9. Holly FURPHY (28. Sienna TECHERA 79′).
Substitutes not used: 30. Payton WOODWARD (GK), 7. Ella O’GRADY, 17. Poppy O’KEEFFE, 24. Laura PICKETT.
Booking: BUNGE 34′, MAHER 89′.
Central Coast Mariners XI: 1. Sarah LANGMAN (GK), 13. Kaiya BUCHANAN (5. Annabel MARTIN 77′), 3. Elizabeth BARWICK-GREY, 18. Taren KING (C), 23. Lorena BAUMANN, 14. Greta KRASZULA, 26. Isabella COCO-DI SIPIO (12. Tiana FULLER 81′), 16. Tess QUILLIGAN (10. Tamar LEVIN 77′), 7. Avaani PRAKASH (6. Isabel GOMEZ 61′), 22. Peta TRIMIS, 17. Jynaya DOS SANTOS (11. Annalise RASMUSSEN 61′).
Substitutes not used: 15. Annalee GROVE (GK).
Booking: None.
Coming Soon
After a trip across the ditch to face Wellington Phoenix in Round 4 on Sunday, November 23, kick-off 2pm AEDT, the Women’s First Team are back at the Home of the Matildas to face Perth Glory. The Dub Round fixture takes place on Sunday, November 30, kick-off 4pm AEDT.
