Melbourne Victory fell to a 3-2 loss to Adelaide United in the Westfield W-League on Friday.
Summary
Despite controlling proceedings at Marden Sports Complex, Victory found itself 3-0 down after Veronica Latsko and Emily Condon struck either side of Michelle Heyman’s penalty.
But the visitor continued to push, with Ella Mastrantonio and Laura Alleway scoring late, but Victory suffered a second straight loss.
Victory made a good start in windy conditions, with Dani Weatherholt and Emily Gielnik threatening in the opening stages.
The visitor dominated possession as Christine Nairn was particularly lively, although it struggled to find a way through Adelaide.
Against the run of play, the Reds took the lead on the half-hour mark through Latsko.
Victory turned over possession in its own half and Latsko struck from distance to make it 1-0.
The game settled back into its rhythm and Natasha Dowie appeared to be brought down inside the area before half-time, but no spot-kick was given to the Victory captain.
After Dylan Holmes hit the post for Adelaide in the 51st minute, Nairn fired two chances wide for Victory.
But again against the run of play, the Reds went 2-0 up through Heyman, who converted a penalty after a tangle with Teigen Allen inside the area led to the spot-kick.
Condon put away a Latsko cutback to add another for Adelaide before Victory’s late push.
Mastrantonio scored her first Westfield W-League goal with a spectacular 25-yard effort.
Then, Alleway headed in her first Victory goal in additional time, but the visitor was unable to find a dramatic late equaliser.
Result
Westfield W-League 2018/19 Round 8
Adelaide United 3 (Veronica Latsko 30′, Michelle Heyman 74′ pen, Emily Condon 77′)
Melbourne Victory 2 (Ella Mastrantonio 87′, Laura Alleway 90+1′)
Next up
Victory is back at home in Round 9, hosting Perth Glory in a top-of-the-table clash at AAMI Park on Friday, December 28.
