Melbourne Victory’s Women continued their winning ways with a 3-0 win away from home in Perth on Sunday evening.
SUMMARY
Sunday afternoon saw a trip West for Victory’s women, in search of a second win in as many weeks after opening their winners account against the Wellington Phoenix in Round 3.
This clash would be the first time Jeff Hopkins’ side would play at Perth’s new temporary home ground in Macedonia Park.
It was the home side which had most of the football throughout the first half, as Kayla Morrison and Claudia Bunge managed a Victory defence which had to remain resolute.
Melina Ayers continued her fine form after scoring the side’s first goal of the season last week, breaking the deadlock in the 25th minute to dampen Glory’s spirits.
Elise Kellond-Knight had a promising chance 36 minutes in but failed to find any of her teammates waiting in the box.
Victory’s young midfielder Alana Murphy showed signs of confidence, trying her luck from distance on occasions late in the first half.
Victory came out of the sheds showing they were up for the fight in the second half, continuing to build from the chances created late in the first.
Smart play from Lia Privitelli in the 55th minute drew a foul from Glory’s Sarah Cain, which resulted in the Perth defender being shown red.
The freekick which came from Privitelli’s play would see Melina Ayers double her tally with Victory’s second, taking a 2-0 lead shortly after in the 58th.
Alex Chidiac’s highlights reel grew larger 75 minutes in, scoring direct from the corner – wowing the crowd both in Perth and watching along from home.
The final 15 minutes saw Victory at their free-flowing best, with combinations between each third of the pitch evident to see, retaining possession to control the final stages.
Casey Dumont’s goal looked under threat with 10 minutes to go, before a bout of desperate defending from Claudia Bunge thwarted Glory’s chance.
Maja Markovski won a foul within a minute of entering the action, which resulted in a move which saw Victory come close to a fourth.
Ava Briedis’ confidence was on full display 88 minutes in, when her long-range effort rattled the Glory crossbar.
The reigning A-League Women’s Champions saw out four minutes of additional time to continue their winning ways in the West, building confidence as the points begin to tally up ahead of three successive home games.
KEY MOMENT
Lia Privitelli’s darting move in the 55th minute drew a foul from Glory’s Sarah Cain, which resulted in her second yellow, bringing the set piece which saw Melina Ayers make it 2-0 in the 58th.
PLAYER IN FOCUS
Melina Ayers looks to have built on previous seasons, now with three goals in her past two A-League matches.
With three home games in a row on their way for the Victory, Ayers will be looking to capitalise to grow her tally at home in Melbourne.
IMPLICATIONS
Victory go within three points of top spot and sit just one place outside the top four.
RESULT
Liberty A-League 2022/23 Round 4
Newcastle Jets 0
Melbourne Victory 3 (Ayers 25′ 58’, Chidiac 75’)
NEXT UP
Victory return to Melbourne to take on the Newcastle Jets in exactly a week’s time at AAMI Park.
