Melbourne City FC has claimed the Westfield W-League Premiership with one game still remaining in the season.
City won 0-4 away from home against Western Sydney to claim the Club’s second W-League Premiership in five years.
First half goals to Claire Emslie and Ellie Carpenter had City in the box seat before Carpenter’s second and a late goal to Ally Watt ensured City would be remain undefeated and be crowned premiers at Marconi Stadium on Thursday night.
Starting XI
Head Coach Rado Vidosic named an unchanged line up to the side that defeated Melbourne Victory 0-4 in Round 12.
We name an unchanged line up for tonight's clash with the Wanderers. #WSWvMCY pic.twitter.com/P0ovUh23yx
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) February 20, 2020
What happened?
After a comfortable derby win last weekend, it didn’t take long for Rado Vidosic’s City team to settle into proceedings at Marconi Stadium.
Claire Emslie was brought down in the box and won an early penalty for the visitors which she converted herself, perfectly placing into the bottom right corner.
City controlled possession for majority of the first half as the Wanderers struggled to get into the game.
Defenders Emma Checker and Rebekah Stott both got forward to shoot at stages, and were unlucky not to score with Checker’s strike hitting the crossbar and Stott’s effort that looked destined for the top corner being well saved.
Carpenter doubled City’s lead on the half hour mark, when the winger was able to net her first goal in City colours.
Kyah Simon played a lofted ball which found the feet of Carpenter, who quickly combined with Emslie before finishing clinically.
Carpenter almost had a brace before half-time when her lethal strike hit the underside of the crossbar, but it was just centimetres away from crossing the goal line.
After a quiet first half, keeper Lydia Williams was into the action early in the second 45.
The Matildas shot-stopper made an uncharacteristic error, passing the ball straight to Cortnee Vine but she quickly redeemed herself, pulling off a strong save to keep Vine’s shot out.
After coming so close to doing it in the first half, Carpenter completed her double in the 63rd minute.
She put her head down and drove past a number of Wanderers defenders before sliding home her second goal of the night past Courtney Newbon.
City continued to press hard for more goals for the remainder of the match with Ally Watt coming off the bench to provide a further spark and also getting her name on the scoresheet with a cool finish from close range.
As it has been all season, City’s defence was rock solid, and picked up its seventh clean sheet in a row.
What’s next?
City has one game remaining in its W-League season and it will be held next Sunday afternoon. This match will be a double header with the A-League clash which follows the W-League game that kicks off at 4pm.
