Melbourne City FC maintained its perfect start to the Westfield W-League season, sweeping aside cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory 4-0 in Bulleen on Sunday afternoon.
In front of the 753 strong crowd at David Barro Stadium, City overcame the stifling heat and synthetic turf to run over the top of a spirited Victory outfit, as a Larissa Crummer brace and goals to Jennifer Beattie and Kim Little saw Joe Montemurro’s side extend its winning run to seven matches.
Making an appearance in her place of residence for the first time this W-League season, Captain Lisa De Vanna was at her damaging best in the comprehensive win, having a hand in three of City’s four goals in an electric performance.
Such has been City’s dominance this season, Montemurro’s side were yet to trail its opposition in a single league encounter. But that record was under threat in the early stages of the season’s second Melbourne Derby, when Victory attacker Natasha Dowie forced Trudy Burke to save at her near post inside the opening two minutes.
The chance immediately sparked City into action, as Beattie crashed a header onto the crossbar with Victory ‘keeper Melissa Barbieri rooted to the spot, before Crummer followed suit by crashing another effort against the woodwork.
But the deadlock was finally broken in the 35th minute when towering defender Beattie fired City into the lead, rising highest to head home a corner from Scottish compatriot Little into the top right-hand corner.
Crummer, the competition’s leading goal-scorer, added a second-half brace to put the result beyond doubt, taking her tally to an astonishing 10 goals from the opening seven matches of the season.
De Vanna was at the heart of both the 19-year-old’s strikes with some pin-point passing, and provided the assist for City’s fourth goal, which was hammered home by Little in the 80th minute.
Melbourne City FC will look to continue its unbeaten start to the Westfield W-League on Sunday 13th December, when they take on Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium, kick-off 2pm.
Match Details
Westfield W-League – Round 8
Melbourne Victory 0
Melbourne City FC 4 (Jennifer BEATTIE 35′, Larissa CRUMMER 54′, 72′, Kim LITTLE 80′)
Venue: David Barro Stadium, Bulleen
Attendance: 753
