Melbourne Victory continued its strong start to the Westfield W-League season with a 2-0 win over City at AAMI Park on Friday.
Summary
An Elise Kellond-Knight own goal and Emily Gielnik strike saw Victory stretch its unbeaten run to start the campaign to three matches.
The result lifts Victory to the top of the table on seven points after an impressive opening to the season.
Both teams kept possession in the opening stages, with Gielnik looking dangerous for Victory down the right.
City wasted the game’s first real chance as Yukari Kinga headed a Tameka Butt cross over in the 23rd minute.
Natasha Dowie forced a save from Lydia Williams on the half-hour mark and Victory struck from the resultant corner.
Christine Nairn’s cross, aimed at Dowie, after a short corner came off Kellond-Knight and went past Williams to give Victory the lead.
Victory had a goal disallowed early in the second half for a foul on Williams after Gielnik scrambled in from close range.
Gielnik struck the post soon after, having been released by a wonderful pass from Nairn.
Victory goalkeeper Casey Dumont was then called into action, making a great save to deny Butt.
But Victory would double its lead in the 65th minute as Gielnik scored her first goal for the club.
Dowie did brilliantly around halfway before releasing the attacker, who finished clinically off the post in a one-on-one with Williams.
As Dumont dealt with numerous City free-kicks, Nairn and Gielnik squandered late chances as Victory closed out its win.
Result
Westfield W-League 2018/19 Round 3
City 0
Melbourne Victory 2 (Elise Kellond-Knight 31′ og, Emily Gielnik 65′)
Next up
Victory makes the trip to Sydney to face the Sky Blues on Sunday, November 25.