Melbourne Victory beat Newcastle Jets 2-1 in the Ninja A-League on Saturday night.
Following a stalemate opening period at John McEwen Reserve, two second-half substitutes made the difference to seal a first three points of 2026 for Jeff Hopkins’ team.
A dangerous Alana Jančevski corner was diverted into her own net by Claudia Cicco’s mistimed clearance for the opener.
The Jets were brought level when Kelli Brown profited from a debatable penalty award, but they could neither kick on nor hold on, as Holly Furphy’s first goal of the season, eight minutes from time, gave Victory the win to sign off a special regional football showcase in Shepparton.
Team News
The Head Coach struck upon three changes to his starting XI for the Round 16 fixture. Chelsea Blissett was given her full debut, Ella O’Grady was handed her first start of the season, and Rhianna Pollicina returned to the XI, as Furphy, Jancevski and Sienna Saveska were switched to the bench.
Match Action
It was the Jets who enjoyed some early territory and had the game’s first attempt on goal when Josie Allan dragged a low shot wide of the far post. This was followed up by an opening for Alexis Collins, whose left-footed effort was superbly kept out by Courtney Newbon reaching down low to parry the ball.
Newbon was called on again either side of the quarter-hour mark, pushing an Allan effort over and getting behind a tame finish from Collins.
The match had been pushed back to an evening slot due to extreme heat, but it was another element causing Victory problems, as they played the opening 45 into a strong headwind. Prevailing nonetheless, Taylor Ray zoomed a long-ranger inches wide of the post with Newcastle goalkeeper Georgia Ritchie beaten.
And it would be the home team ending the half strongest. Pollicina executed an eye of the needle pass to Kennedy White, only for the striker’s effort to be blocked smartly by Ritchie.
Half-time: Melbourne Victory 0-0 Newcastle Jets
Victory were desperately close to breaking the deadlock shortly into the second half. Sofia Sakalis let fly from distance, leaving the crossbar reverberating, such was the shot’s ferocity. A handful of minutes later, Pollicina tried her luck outside of the area, forcing Ritchie to push the ball behind for a corner.
Seeking a fresh spark, Hopkins turned to the bench, introducing Furphy and Jancevski, an investment that paid immediate dividends. Jancevski was straight onto set-piece duty and watched her inswinger find the far corner via Cicco’s lazy attempt at a clearance.
The lead, unfortunately, lasted precisely 10 minutes, as the visitors pulled level in controversial circumstances. Emma Dundas flew into the area, and between the attentions of Rosie Curtis and Claudia Bunge, it appeared her own propulsion sent her to the turf. Referee Georgia
Ghirardello determined otherwise, pointed to the spot, and Brown converted from 12 yards.
No momentum from equalising was forthcoming for Newcastle, and it was Victory who retook the lead through Furphy. The attacker put an end to some penalty box pinball, using her left boot to stylishly curl the ball into the top corner, clinching maximum points and completing a league double over Newcastle.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory 2 (CICCO OWN GOAL 64′, FURPHY 82′)
Newcastle Jets 1 (BROWN 74′)
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 1. Courtney NEWBON (GK), 27. Rosie CURTIS (24. Laura PICKETT 75′), 18. Kayla MORRISON (C), 3. Claudia BUNGE, 4. Chelsea BLISSETT (66. Alana JANCEVSKI 63′), 6. Taylor RAY, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA (81. Grace MAHER 90′), 5. Sofia SAKALIS, 23. Rachel LOWE (8. Sienna SAVESKA 75′), 7. Ella O’GRADY (9. Holly FURPHY 63′), 16. Kennedy WHITE.
Substitutes not used: 30: Payton WOODWARD (GK).
Booking: BLISSETT 20′, LOWE 39′, O’GRADY 45+1′, SAKALIS 51′, CURTIS 53′, BUNGE 68′.
Newcastle Jets starting XI: 12. Georgia RITCHIE (GK), 3. Claudia CICCO, 4. Natasha PRIOR (C), 8. Emma DUNDAS, 11. Charlotte LANCASTER, 14. Melina AYRES (9. Haley JOHNSON 85′), 15. Emma BATES, 18. Sophie HOBAN (10. Elizabeth COPUS-BROWN 85′), 26. Josie ALLAN, 30. Alexis COLLINS, 44. Kelli BROWN (13. Lauren ALLAN 74′).
Substitutes not used: 50. Ally BOERTJE (GK), 2. Josie WILSON, 7. India BREIER.
Booking: PRIOR 41′.
Coming Soon
From Regional Victoria to The Home of The Matildas, it is another big game for the Girls in Blue, with bragging rights on the line in the Melbourne Derby next weekend.
