Continuing the winning ways
We recorded our first win of the Westfield W-League season in style on Sunday, defeating Victory 3-2 in a Melbourne Derby.
This result came exactly a week after our biggest loss to our cross-town rival, so was a remarkable turnaround in such a short space of time from Rado Vidosic’s squad.
Class finish from Chidiac for the opener 👌
🎥: @FOXFOOTBALL#MelbDerby #MVCvMCY #WLeague #CmonCity pic.twitter.com/xO3kUwEYsF
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) January 17, 2021
Alex Chidiac opened scoring for City in the 22nd minute before the lead was doubled minutes later when Victory defender Claudia Bunge turned Chinatsu Kira’s cross into her own net.
Victory scored twice early in the second half to equalise but Harriet Withers’ debut W-League goal in the 86th minute was enough to secure all three points for City.
Harriet Withers first @WLeague goal is a derby winner! Nothing sweeter!
🎥: @FOXFOOTBALL#MelbDerby #MVCvMCY #WLeague #CmonCity pic.twitter.com/TI1OuDMwAe
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) January 17, 2021
This will bring plenty of confidence to the group who are edging closer and closer to full strength and fitness.
Captain Checker starting
It may have taken until Round 4 but it was great to finally see captain Emma Checker back in action!
She missed the early part of the season as she continued to rehab a stress fracture which was sustained during her stint in France.
Now back fit and firing, she came off the bench and played the final half hour in Sunday’s Melbourne Derby win.
Great to have you back @emmachecker! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ve50snR3LD
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) January 19, 2021
She didn’t take long to settle in and was quickly back marshalling the defence, which was especially needed when Jenna McCormick was subbed off in the 73rd minute after suffering a knock.
Expect to see plenty more of Checker this week, with Rado confirming post match that she will be taking the armband from the first whistle against Adelaide.
Chemistry continuing to build
Since the start of the season Rado has been pleading for patience, noting it is an almost entirely new group that has a number of players who have faced interrupted preparations due to hotel quarantine.
Alex Chidiac played the full ninety minutes in the Derby and is now looking close to full fitness while Noor Eckhoff has completed quarantine and will be joining the group this week.
The middle of the season isn’t far away and it is crucial that City continue to work hard off the pitch in order to get good results on it and push for a place in finals.
A first ever away trip to Adelaide
Since we first entered the W-League in the 2015/16 season, we have never once travelled to Adelaide to take on the Reds away from home.
This strange fixture quirk will finally be put to bed on Thursday night when we face them at Marden Sports Complex.
While we may not have had the opportunity to play them in Adelaide, City has fared well against United in recent seasons.
In five previous W-League matches we are yet to suffer a defeat, drawing three and winning two including the most recent meeting between teams last season.
Kyah Simon’s eighth minute goal was enough to secure all three points for City on that occasion, in a fixture that was played in Shepparton.
Momentum building ahead of our next home match
This away trip will provide the perfect opportunity to continue to build momentum ahead next week’s massive double header at AAMI Park!
Following the Adelaide clash we will host Brisbane Roar on Sunday 31 January with kick-off at 4.05pm, before City’s A-League squad take on Perth Glory at 6.40pm.
Ticketing information will be announced in coming days so stay tuned!
