Melbourne City FC has registered back-to-back wins with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Canberra United at AAMI Park on Saturday.
A blistering first-half performance saw City take a 3-0 lead into the break. Rhali Dobson opened the scoring with a header from close range, before Kyah Simon doubled the hosts lead with a thunderous header. On the stroke of half-time, Dobson make it 3-0 with a brilliant individual run and finish.
City’s win sees them leapfrog Canberra United on the league ladder and jump back into finals contention. Rado Vidosic’s side will look to continue their unbeaten run when they travel to Western Sydney to face the Wanderers on New Year’s Day.
Team News
Head Coach Rado Vidosic named an unchanged starting line-up from City’s 3-1 win over Newcastle in Round 6.
Captain Steph Catley was again named in the starting XI after making a successful return from knee surgery against the Jets.
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What happened?
In perfect conditions for football at AAMI Park, City looked to storm out of the blocks, determined to leapfrog their opponents on the league ladder.
After a flurry of near-chances in the opening five minutes, City’s early dominance saw the home side take a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute through Rhali Dobson. Elise Kellond-Knight’s short corner found Yukari Kinga, who found Dobson with a perfectly weighted cross, the winger then made no mistake with a well-timed header from close range.
Dobson looked to make it two in three-minutes when she was found inside the area, only to be denied by Shamiran Khamis. City continued to press down the right-wing, this time through Theresa Nielsen, whose cross was met by Kyah Simon whose effort was wide.
Ellie Carpenter responded for the away side, with their first chance of the match, blazing her effort from range over the crossbar.
In the 27th minute, City had a golden chance to make it 2-0 as Canberra shot-stopper Shamiran Khamis spilled the ball inside the penalty area, the ball falling at the feet of Kinga who was unable to capitalise from close range.
City’s first-half dominance continued as the half progressed, in the 36th minute Kyah Simon made it 2-0 with a brilliant header. Tameka Butt’s perfectly weighted cross was met by the attacker, who barged through two defenders and found the inside of the far post.
On the stroke half-time, City would make it 3-0 with an incredible individual effort from Dobson. The winger skipped past her opponent before firing the ball into the back of the net from outside the box.
Following a dominant first-half, City looked to control proceedings in the second-half. With Canberra desperate to get back into the match, City held firm, forcing their opponents to shoot from range. Experienced goalkeeper Lydia Williams was equal to the task, making saves to deny both Nikola Orgill and Ellie Carpenter from range.
With 10 minutes to play, second-half substitute Adriana Jones had a great opportunity to make it 4-0 following Tameka Butt’s perfectly weighted through ball, only to be denied by a desperate challenge from Rachel Corsie.
What’s next?
City will look to open the New Year with a win when they travel to Western Sydney to play the Wanderers at ANZ Stadium on Tuesday 1 January, kick-off 5:20pm.
