Melbourne Victory Women secured their place in the Ninja A-League Grand Final with an emphatic 3-1 second-leg win over Adelaide United.
Keeping the starting XI and substitutes unchanged from the first leg, head coach Jeff Hopkins wanted his side to maintain the levels displayed in Adelaide.
Keen to book their place in the Grand Final in flying fashion, Victory came out strong in Bundoora.
Accruing four early corner kicks, the Wuck applied early pressure on the visitors.
A positive run from winger Nicki Flannery saw Reds defender, Matilda McNamara bring her down on the edge of the box, earning a yellow card and Victory a free-kick in a dangerous position.
Alana Jancevski stepped up to the dead ball and fired a powerful strike goalwards, forcing goalkeeper Claudia Jenkins to parry the ball.
Attacker Rachel Lowe was the first to pounce, volleying the ball goalwards to open the scoring in the 11th minute.
It was a perfect start for Victory, jumping ahead 4-1 on aggregate just after 10 minutes of action.
Chasing a three-goal deficit, the Reds pushed to respond and forced some great stops from Courtney Newbon in net.
Victory held out well to keep the scoreline to 1-0 at halftime, preparing for an important 45 minutes to follow.
It remained tight following the break, with Jeff Hopkins’ side keeping the Reds at bay.
Receiving the ball out on the left wing, Nicki Flannery cut the ball back across to Sara D’Appolonia on the edge of the box.
Taking time to compose herself, D’Appolonia wacked a powerful strike into the far post to double the Navy Blues’ lead on the hour mark.
Emily Gielnik would also soon get her chance to join in on the scoring after sprinting through on goal, but Claudia Jenkins denied her 14th goal of the season.
Holly Furphy would enter the game in the 77th minute, a call that would very quickly pay off.
Played down the right wing, Furphy burst through on goal and played a well-weighted ball to Rachel Lowe, who scored past the Reds’ goalkeeper with a first-timed finish.
It took Furphy only one minute to impact the game, helping Rachel Lowe nab her brace and take her goal tally to four for the season.
“She’s been unlucky not to get a goal (the past few games), but she got a real striker’s goal today from a rebound,” said head coach Jeff Hopkins on Lowe.
Substitutes Ella O’Grady, Rosie Curtis and Laura Pickett all entered in the remaining minutes as the Victory faithful expressed their delight with the performance at the Home of the Matildas.
Victory’s perfect day out was slightly tainted after Emily Hodgson’s consolation goal for the Original Rivals in the final minute, heartbreakingly denying Victory of another clean sheet.
However, all was forgotten as players, coaches, and fans alike erupted with the full-time whistle, celebrating an excellent semi-final tie against Adelaide United that will see Victory progress through to the Grand Final.
Post-game, Jeff Hopkins expressed his ambitions for the biggest of games to come.
“For this team, I think it’s about being the best ever Victory team. Teams of the past have won trophies… (we’ve got) the most points, clean sheets; all those things that we’ve done, but we still haven’t won anything.
“That’s the test for us and that’s what is driving us on from next week.”
Melbourne Victory will return to the field next weekend for the opportunity to be crowned A-League Women’s Champions, set to take on the winners of Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners.
Match Details
Ninja A-League Semi-Final: Leg 2
Melbourne Victory 3 (Lowe 11′, 78′, D’Appolonia 61′)
Adelaide United 1 (Hodgson 90+6′)
Melbourne Victory Starting XI: 50. Courtney NEWBON (GK), 2. Ellie WILSON, 3. Claudia BUNGE, 8. Alana MURPHY, 10. Alex CHIDIAC, 11. Nicki FLANNERY, 13. Sara D’APPOLONIA, 15. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Kayla MORRISON (C), 23. Rachel LOWE, 66. Alana JANCEVSKI
Substitutes: 62. Geo CANDY (GK), 7. Ella O’GRADY (81′), 9. Holly FURPHY (77′), 24. Laura PICKETT (86′), 27. Rosie CURTIS (81′), 41. Jessica YOUNG
Adelaide United Starting XI: 21. Claudia JENKINS (GK), 2. Emily HODGSON, 4. Matilda MCNAMARA, 5. Sarah MORGAN, 8. Emily CONDON, 10. Chelsie DAWBER, 13. Ella TONKIN (C), 14. Lucia LEON, 16. Dylan HOLMES, 22. Erin HEALY, 23. Fiona WORTS
Substitutes: 30. Ilona MELEGH (GK), 11. Isabel HODGSON (68′), 12. Nanako SASAKI (82′), 19. Katie BOWLER (68′), 27. Sian DEWEY (68′), 28. Chrissy PANAGARIS (82′)
