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Melbourne City has been held to a 2-2 draw in the first leg of its Semi-Final tie with Central Coast, setting up a high-stakes rematch at home next weekend. 

The Mariners opened the scoring through Brooke Nunne, who tapped in a parried Malena Mieres save in the 20th minute. Fortunately, City struck back comprehensively, first through a Leticia McKenna rocket from a dead ball, and then through a well-worked Bryleeh Henry goal in the 29th and 35th minutes respectively. However, the Mariners would continue to frustrate as Nunne again found the back of the net after rounding Mieres and looping her shot over the retreating defenders.

With so much now on the line, here’s what we learned from today’s tight affair:

The result is a difficult one to place in context

How should City fans feel about today’s result, then?

Whilst the team would have been heavily favoured to win, a draw away from home isn’t a bad result. Michael Matricciani had to name what was effectively a second-string front three of TJ Vlajnic, Shelby McMahon and Bryleeh Henry, whilst their counterparts Mariana Speckmaier, Holly McNamara and Lourdes Bosch were all injured or on the bench.

It was never mandatory for the job to be done in the first leg, but it was concerning that the Mariners kept pace with, and arguably outplayed, City throughout the 90 minutes.

This sets up a tantalising rematch next Saturday night.

A win next week is far from a foregone conclusion

We may be 28 games unbeaten in all competitions, but if we can’t defeat the Mariners next weekend, that record will count for half as much as the team will want it to.

In three attempts this year, City is yet to taste victory against Emily Husband’s outfit, playing out scorelines of 2-2, 0-0, and 2-2.

Today, it was no coincidence that the City girls were held to a stalemate. The Mariners came with a clear strategy of when to press the City backline and also found great success on the break. Both of the home side’s goals arrived via counterattacking situations, and the visiting back four were all at odds in either scenario.

Whilst a return to our home crowd and the possible inclusions of McNamara, Bosch, and Speckmaier to the starting XI should see City as favourites to win the second leg, progression to the Final will require something that we just haven’t been able to manage this campaign.

(Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)

McKenna proving again why City is so hard to beat

Whilst today’s performance hindered my confidence a little, I remain optimistic about City’s silveware prospects in both the A-League Women and the Asian Women’s Champions League, primarily due to the following factor: the variety of our goalscoring routes.

If an opposition team somehow manages to subdue McNamara, Bosch, Speckmaier and Henry, or if several of them are absent from the teamsheet like today, then City has other reliable goalscoring methods even when our performance hasn’t been to the usual standard. When City needed a break against the run of play this afternoon, McKenna unleashed one of the best free-kicks City fans have seen. Adding to her small handful of on-target dead-ball strikes this season alone, the midfielder has become a threatening set-piece taker and a reliable goalscoring weapon.

A fortnight ago, by comparison, the difference-maker was Taylor Otto and her headed goals from corners. Her strikes against Perth Glory to blow out the scoreline early were her fourth and fifth goals of her City career, and the tall central defender has proven herself an aerial threat at corners and set-pieces.

Between McKenna’s direct free-kicks and Otto’s aerial dominance, City has a couple of dangerous alternative routes to goal if its star attacking lineup is somehow contained.

Your City girls went to Perth with one mission: bring home the three points and with that secure our fourth premiership. They delivered on the big stage with a massive five-star performance, ensuring that local rivals Victory were unable to snatch the Premier’s Plate away from us in the dying stages of the regular season.

City got off to an absolute flyer with Taylor Otto and Bryleeh Henry scoring in the opening six minutes before a 12th minute penalty brought the home side back into the game. Otto continued her aerial threat with confidence as the tall defender bagged her second of the game to regain that two goal advantage in the 26th minute. Just before half time, who else but Holly McNamara got in on the act as City ran away into the sheds with a healthy three goal lead.

In the second half, Malena Mieres continued her red-hot form in goal with a string of fantastic saves. Then, in the 65th minute, Leticia McKenna all but sealed the game with a floating free-kick that left the Glory keeper red-faced.

Here is what we learned from the final game of the regular season:

McNamara has outdone herself

Holly Mac has had a wonderful season after coming back from injury. In only 18 games, the young superstar scored an immense 15 goals to more than help City on our way to another premiership. In doing so, Holly Mac has won the golden boot; only the second time a City player has done so in the Dub.

McNamara’s talent will only ensure that she makes further appearances for the Matilda’s in the future, and if she keeps this up, who knows where she could be in the next couple of years?

All I know now is that we have one wonderful player on our hands. One which may be able to deliver us even more silverware by the end of this season.

Not. Done. Yet.

City are on a ruthless run this season, and there are absolutely zero signs of slowing down at this point. Be it the Asian Champions League or the A-League regular season, this team simply does not accept losing. It is an incredibly strong mentality that Michael Matricciani has instilled within this side. A winning mentality.

With two more trophies still in play, this could become more than just a memorable campaign, it could be a season for the ages. Yes, the praise is high, but if this side can pull off a multi-silverware sweep with such dominance, it would be nothing short of extraordinary.

And if you need proof that the fire is still burning, just look at the last two matches: nine goals scored, zero mercy shown. The City women aren’t counting down to the post-season. They’re chasing glory. They’re still hungry. And most importantly, they’re not done yet.

City will play the winner of Adelaide United vs Western United in a two-legged semi-final, first of which will be away during the first weekend of May. Come on you City girls!

Melbourne City has taken another significant step toward claiming back-to-back A-League Women’s Premierships, brushing aside the Newcastle Jets 4-1 in a dominant performance at AAMI Park on Friday evening.

Holly McNamara opened the scoring early before Newcastle’s discipline collapsed, with two red cards — both of which looked a little harsh — reducing the visitors to nine players. City took full advantage, with McNamara netting a second before the break. Though she was substituted before having the chance to complete what would have been her third hat-trick of the season, the goals kept flowing. Rhianna Pollicina and Bryleeh Henry each added their names to the scoresheet to wrap up a clinical victory.

With Melbourne Victory also collecting three points in their match against the Central Coast Mariners, the race for the Premiership will go down to the final weekend.

Here’s what we learned from Friday’s win.

One point from glory — and a place in history

The equation is clear: a draw next Saturday against Perth Glory will secure Melbourne City the 2024–25 A-League Women’s Premiership.

The City girls won’t have the fortune of knowing the result they’ll need based on Victory’s clash with Brisbane, which occurs the following day, but they’d undoubtedly want to take care of business themselves, especially with history on the line. By avoiding defeat in Perth, City would complete the longest unbeaten home and away season in Australian domestic football history, including records from former Men’s and Women’s competitions.

Perth Glory have been inconsistent and are currently in 10th position, giving City every reason to feel confident, particularly after such a convincing display against the Jets.

Emilia Murray struggling to make her mark

In a game so heavily tilted in City’s favour, there was little to criticise and little to learn. This is therefore a barrel scrape, but Emilia Murray continues to undershoot the potential she’s been touted with.

A highly-rated youth prospect at Adelaide United, the versatile midfielder/winger hasn’t made the impact many had hoped to see, with her transfer to City seen as a positive stepping stone within her career. While her minutes have been limited, opportunities have come — particularly in a longer season and with continental football in the mix.

There’s no doubting her potential, but time is running out to leave a mark this campaign. Perhaps, like several other young players at City before her, what Murray needs is just to make it through her first City season, and instead look to build in an improved second season.

Photo: By The White Line

Goodbye Bubs?

Goalkeeper substitutions are, of course, quite a rarity, but today’s potentially carried additional significance if we read into some of the signs.

At 45 years and just under 2 months, Melissa Barbieri broke her own record for the umpteenth time as the oldest player in Australian footballing history, but it may be the last time that we see it broken. Michael Matricciani likely afforded the moment to Barbieri in an already-won home game – our last of the regular season – because the opportunity might not come in Finals. ‘Bubs’ is poised to enter full-time coaching from next season given her inclusion in Football Australia’s Team of Coaches initiative for female coach development, and was also seen waving conspicuously to the terrace at the end of the game.

A legend of the club, certainly in terms of leadership and fan affinity, there could be no better way to send off Barbieri than with all three trophies to finish off the season.

Melbourne City has held on for yet another win in the A-League Women, with today’s 1-0 result away from home to the Wellington Phoenix ensuring we’ve moved five points clear atop the table.

Holly McNamara continued her strong run of form with the game’s only goal in the first half, turning home Lourdes Bosch’s squaring ball for the young striker’s 12th of the season. Unfortunately, she also missed a penalty in the second half, a period that saw several huge chances for City go begging.

Doing what we had to do, three points is all the fans can ask for as City appear on the verge of doing the near-impossible.

Here’s what we learned:

Going ‘Invincible’ might be indispensable

In an ordinary season, the Premier’s Plate would’ve been wrapped up by now. This is no ordinary season.

Hot on our tails and refusing to go away, Melbourne Victory somehow continues to keep pace with Michael Matricciani’s team of record-breakers. Jeff Hopkins’ side has won all five of its last five, with four of those being against Finals-bound opposition. They managed it again yesterday, winning a second-straight game in injury time, heaping the pressure back on City ahead of today’s game, so it was fortunate that our girls came through.

The equation is this: City has two games left to play, and due to our superior goal difference, the team needs a maximum of four points to rip the Plate from Victory’s longing clutches. Victory themselves are due to face Western Sydney and Central Coast away, before returning home to play Brisbane on the final day – dropping a single point on that run would allow us to claim the Plate outright with our next win.

In this extraordinary season, it seems like it’ll take the most extraordinary feat for silverware to be ours.

Please, no-one take us to penalties…

City’s exit from the 2022/23 Finals series on penalties has rightly scarred some City fans, especially as it was the second-consecutive year we’d gone out at the hands of the Victory, so we’re justified in being extra apprehensive when it comes to spot-kicks.

With the chance to arguably put the game to bed in the 55th minute, McNamara stepped up and placed a tame effort to the left of the Wellington keeper, who didn’t even need to parry, but rather stopped the ball with one hand on the dive. The moment called back to a week ago, when, although McNamara scored the day’s first penalty against Taichung Blue Whale in the Asian Women’s Champions League, Leticia McKenna was not able to convert the second spot-kick awarded soon after.

In fact, City has missed every penalty attempted in the A-League Women this season (according to FBRef, which doesn’t feel right, but don’t fact-check me), with Mariana Speckmaier and Rhianna Pollicina also credited with missing spot-kicks. It’s the lack of recent success, as well as the variety of misfiring takers, that concerns most.

If City is taken to penalties in Finals, would you really back us?

(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

An unsung hero

A frequent scapegoat early on in the 2024/25 campaign, Malena Mieres has since played a vital role in our 21-game unbeaten streak in the league.

Prone to errors of the decision-making, aerial, and passing varieties across the opening 10 games of the season, the Spanish goalkeeper has since shored up her distribution, is suffering fewer hesitations, and has proven shot-stopping to be arguably her greatest trait. Mieres boasts a save percentage of 75.3%, the second-best figure in the league, whilst conceding fewer than a goal per game.

Whilst this team’s greatness is owed to the fact that every starting XI regular is having a superb individual season, Mieres’ safe hands have proven reassuring during some of the season’s tighter wins. 

Your City girls have now extended their undefeated streak to an incredible 20 A-League games; 24 games now if we include the Asian Champions League.

City got off to a flyer in Bowen Hills with Taylor Otto scoring her first goal of the season in the opening nine minutes, which turned out to be the only goal despite an exciting opening 45 minutes. 

The second half continued where the first half left off, and Holly McNamara scored a beautifully placed goal with her left foot as it spilled out to her near the edge of the box in the 70th minute. Malena Mieres continued her good form with some nice saves to keep Brisbane at bay.

City finished the game off in style as Bryleeh Henry robbed the Brisbane defence of the ball and ran away to pop the ball into the back of the net with ease in the 89th minute. Soon after, Leticia McKenna whipped in a gorgeous cross for Mariana Speckmaier, finishing off the move with a perfect header.

This is what we learned from the flogging of Brisbane:

Here come the goals

It genuinely feels like this has been coming, but the girls have finally opened the floodgates after threatening all season to be ruthless. After spending so long scoring a couple of goals here and there while dominating games, City have now scored a massive 11 goals in their past three games.

It sincerely has been coming, and it bodes well heading into the final three games of the A-League regular season as we look to head into the finals on form. 

Of course the catalyst to this change in fortune has most certainly been the uptick in confidence from our front players, and that may be down to Holly Mac returning to career-best form, like she never had any time off or injury for that matter!

Masters of defence

While the attack grabbed the headlines (as always), the backline deserves massive credit. Clean sheets don’t happen by accident, and City have certainly been focusing on this in the new year with four of our six A-League clean sheets this season coming in 2025. Malena Mieres was solid once again while Taylor Otto and Rebekah Stott remained composed. 

Particularly, Otto has been absolutely fantastic at the back this season, maintaining a 7.3 rating according to fotmob.com. Whatever Michael Matricciani has been doing is certainly working as these girls are playing like they have something to prove.

Building momentum at the perfect time

With just three games left in the regular season, City are hitting top form exactly when it matters most. The blend of attacking flair, defensive discipline, and growing confidence across the squad suggests this team is building serious momentum. If they keep this up, they’ll roll into finals as outright favourites – if we aren’t already.

The timing couldn’t be better. Finals football is all about form, and City are looking sharper with every outing. Add to that the experience of players like Stott and Mieres anchoring the spine, and the return to peak fitness of stars like Holly Mac, and it’s a dangerous mix for any team standing in their way.

This is a season where anything can happen, especially if we remain confident in attack and solid at the back.

Next up, City are in New Zealand as they take on Wellington at 2pm AEDT on Sunday afternoon. Let’s make it 21 A-League games undefeated.

The girls have done it.

With a 4-3 win over Adelaide United, they’ve secured their place in the history books of Australian domestic women’s football.

City took the lead early with a goal from Holly McNamara – despite the broadcast’s best efforts to award the goal to Bosch despite it being credited to H-Mac everywhere else – who capitalized on an error from Adelaide goalkeeper Claudia Jenkins following a TJ Vlajnic free-kick. McNamara doubled her tally in the 27th minute after Lourdes Bosch made a smart run and set her up for an easy finish. Adelaide responded in the 33rd minute with a scrappy goal after a corner kick, with Ella Tonkin benefiting from a scramble in the box, but City restored its two-goal advantage in the 41st minute when Adelaide’s defense failed to clear a corner, resulting in an own goal. Erin Healy pulled one back for Adelaide in the 53rd minute with a powerful strike that beat City’s goalkeeper off the inside of the post, before McNamara completed her hat-trick in the 65th minute with a precise shot that bounced in off the left post. City fans were left nervous for the final quarter of the match when Adelaide responded once more in the 73rd minute, scoring from another corner as Zoe Tolland headed past Mieres to make it 4-3, but City held on for the win.

Here are three things we learned from today’s high-octane match:

Of All Time.

City’s 19-match unbeaten streak is now the longest in Australian domestic women’s football history, surpassing the previous record set by three teams (including City) in the A-League Women’s / W-League era, and not previously achieved during the Women’s National Soccer League, which ran from 1996-2005.

That’s an enormous achievement, and even bigger when you consider City is unbeaten in 22 games in all competitions.

This run has been a testament to City’s consistency, quality, and resilience over an extended period. To go unbeaten for so long is no small feat, and it’s a real feather in the cap for the team, not just this season, but for the club as a whole.

It’s safe to say that this team, under the youthful guidance of Michael Matricciani, has become something rather special.

Rival Downed

It’s bold to claim, but City seem to have the number of one of the league’s Championship contenders.

Today’s win, coming on the heels of a 3-1 win away from home earlier in the season, means we’ve effectively sealed their fate in the race for the Premiers Plate, with the Reds now 7 points off the pace from the same number of games played. Beating a direct Finals rival in the way we have—scoring freely, creating opportunities, and holding off a late charge—is a sign that City is ready for the business end of the season.

Adelaide’s been a top contender this year, but City have now proven they can take care of business against them.

The primary challenge now seems to be from our crosstown rivals. We’ve played the Victory twice, winning once by one goal and drawing once, but they’ve also kept the pressure on us all campaign, going at greater than a regrettably impressive 2.0 points per game – enough to win the league in the vast majority of seasons past.

Should we face Adelaide come Finals time, City fans have reason to be quietly confident.

Facing Victory, however, with the recent scars of Finals knockouts at their hands still fresh, is a whole other proposition.

Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

City and Corners…

Here at Talking City, we’ve lamented all season the defensive calamities that have resulted from passing out from the back – today offered another to get irate about – but more concerningly, it was our fragility from corners that nearly brought Matricciani’s side undone this afternoon.

Two of Adelaide’s goals came as as consequence of set-pieces, particularly our inability to decisively clear the ball out of danger, with the final goal in particular looking scrappy and preventable. Zoe Tolland’s on-target header considering just a second beforehand an undercooked City clearance left an Adelaide player with her back to goal and the ball at chest height, yet somehow it was hooked over her shoulder for Tolland to head an improbable shot towards goal, and Malena Mieres really should have done better to not allow it through her hands.

It is perhaps a testament to City’s organised backline that we rarely concede by genuinely being outplayed, yet frustrating to be brought routinely undone from second balls at corners.

It’s something for City’s coaching team to work on over our final four regular season fixtures, especially with Finals fast approaching and the tall timber of Emily Gielnik of Melbourne Victory to likely contend with at one stage or another.

City’s unbeaten streak now stands at 19, and while there’s work to do defensively, it’s clear that this team is built for the big occasions. The journey is far from over despite today’s historic feat, with the Premiership another couple of wins away, and pre-Finals momentum always crucial ahead of knockout football. The girls are in continental action next Sunday against Taichung Blue Whale at AAMI Park, before playing their postponed A-League Women’s game in the following midweek slot away to Brisbane Roar on the 26th.

Here we go again…

Thanks to some glaring missed chances and a catastrophic back-pass, Melbourne City has come away from its match against Canberra United with a 1-1 draw earlier today – enough to see the team equal the all-time A-League Women’s unbeaten games record.

The second half of the match provided several chaotic moments, including a messy own goal from Canberra goalkeeper Sally James, followed in the 82nd minute by an underhit backpass which Malena Mieres was unable to come out to meet, leaving Aideen Keane to pass the ball into the back of the City net.

Here are three key takeaways from the match:

No bite without H-Mac

Without Holly McNamara, City’s attack seriously lacked spark.

The absence of her pace and creativity left a noticeable void unable to be filled by City’s host of other attacking players who fail to bring the same qualities as effectively.

McNamara has the ability to make something out of nothing and create opportunities when none seemed possible. Without her, other players like Mariana Speckmaier, Lourdes Bosch and Bryleeh Henry were forced to carry more of the offensive load but struggled to replicate her impact. Speckmaier has shown flashes of brilliance this season, but without McNamara, City’s attack lacked a clinical edge, looking as though it couldn’t have scored without an overwhelming quantity of chances, which just isn’t practical.

This match was a stark reminder of just how crucial McNamara is to City’s attacking setup, and how reliant we are on her X-Factor in close games.

(Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Big shoes to fill elsewhere

Today’s contest shifted when Alexia Apostolakis left the pitch in the 71st minute due to an apparent injury as Bryleeh Henry, who shifted to right-back, struggled in the defensive role. Immediately after, Canberra started to dominate the attacking proceedings and Henry lost several duels as the pressure continued to mount.

Apostolakis has been one of City’s most consistent and reliable defenders this season, using her physicality and defensive awareness to shut down opposition attacks. Losing her, even for a short period, demonstrated the significant drop-off in quality when she is absent.

This injury to Apostolakis raises concerns over City’s depth in the right full-back position, especially with Henry failing to meet the high standard required to replace her young defensive counterpart.

Silverware is on the horizon

This isn’t a talking point for the superstitious, so you may want to look away now.

Despite today’s frustrating draw, City’s pursuit of the Premiership is looking strong, and we’re entering the realm of equations to determine mathematical certainty.

With 40 points, the team now needs a maximum of 11 more points to mathematically secure the 2024/25 A-League Women’s Premiership. Our closest rivals, the Victory, are still in contention but could only reach an absolute highest points total of 50, which we need 3-4 wins from our final five games to reach. More likely, however, our crosstown rivals will drop points here or there, and 2-3 more wins should do it.

With a favourable run of fixtures to finish the season, including matches against 8th-placed Wellington and bottom-three-bound Newcastle and Perth, City looks in a strong position to secure back-to-back Premiership trophies.

Melbourne City extended their remarkable unbeaten streak to 20 games in all competitions with a 2-1 win over Sydney FC in an intense A-League Women clash.

After falling behind early to a self-inflicted Mackenzie Hawkesby goal, City fought back with a sensational second-half equalizer from Mariana Speckmaier, before Bryleeh Henry sealed the win with a composed finish in the 89th minute.

Here are three key lessons learned from the exciting 2-1 win over Sydney FC:

Meeting our maker – almost…

Minutes away from being a third-consecutive 1-1 draw in contests between the two teams this season, the game showcased how well-matched City and Sydney are tactically.

Ante Juric had his team set up perfectly to capitalise on City’s daring passing in defensive areas, forcing multiple high turnovers, with Hawkesby’s goal the most evident example. Throughout the game, this tactical battle made for entertaining viewing, as Sydney’s aggressive pressing continued to test City’s composure.

Separately, Juric learned from the mistakes of Western United and Newcastle Jets over the past week, and instructed his centre-backs to sit deep. This prevented Holly McNamara from running into space behind the defence, as she did for her multiple goals against the aforementioned opposition recently. McNamara’s influence was largely abated throughout the contest as a result.

Ultimately, the match was a battle of attrition where small individual moments—like Speckmaier’s stunning goal and Henry’s late winner—decided the outcome.

City’s individual brilliance covering over cracks

While City’s tactical structure continues to be tested, the brilliance of individuals like Mariana Speckmaier, Holly McNamara, and (to a lesser degree) Lourdes Bosch has been the difference in many games. Further to that, there are players like Rebekah Stott, Laura Hughes, and Taylor Otto who look a level above with their general play.

It all makes me begin to wonder how much of City’s historic unbeaten run owes to the individual quality of our players, versus the tactical nouse of Michael Matricciani.

In this match, Speckmaier’s brilliant solo goal, just 26 seconds into the second half, showed the kind of game-changing ability City possess. Malena Mieres pulled out a number of brilliant stops, showing her potential when she’s on song, whilst Stott had a standout defensive performance, and was probably my player of the match. And then there’s Hughes’ sumptuous, line-breaking ball to Bosch to set up the match-winner in the final moments.

However, as effective as these game-changing performances have been, it’s also evident that there are cracks in the system that could be exposed more severely if the reliance on individual moments continues.

City’s mental strength and ability to dig deep is undeniable

One of the most impressive aspects of City’s performance in this match was their ability to remain mentally strong despite the early setback and constant pressure from Sydney.

(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

After the opening goal, many teams could have crumbled or become disjointed. It certainly seemed that the visiting Sky Blues had our number over the opening half an hour, and the narrative seemed primed to see Juric become the first manager this season to take all three points against City. Matricciani’s side, however, showed what has become a level of self-belief that is inseparable from their identity.

Speckmaier’s incredible goal just seconds into the second half was a statement of intent – City would be taking their fate into their own hands. From that point onward, the team’s intent was clear as the girls pushed hard for a winner, eventually rewarded for their determination in the game’s dying moments.

The quality has served City well across the opening two-thirds of the league season, but could also be a decisive factor come Finals too.

Your City girls have broken their duck against a Western United side in decisive fashion, taking out their goal-scoring frustrations in a massive 5-1 victory in Cranbourne.

The game got off to a flyer with Holly McNamara being played through on goal, missing her first attempt but finding the back of the net with her second bite at the cherry. Soon after, Holly had a chance go begging as she found herself one-on-one with the opposing keeper yet again, but was too focused on shifting from scorer to provider, that the chance for her second went begging.

On the other side of the pitch, Chloe Logarzo smashed an absolute bomb past Malena Mieres to even up the score line off the back of a City mistake in possession.

Lourdes Bosch found herself dancing past defenders not long after, proceeding to place the ball into the path of Holly Mac – all she had to do was pass it into the back of the net for her second! Of course, when it rains it pours, and two minutes later Holly raced onto the ball and chipped it over the Western United keeper who remained in no man’s land to secure her first-half hat-trick.

Rhianna Pollicina got into the goal-scoring action, placing a well-driven shot into the back of the net not long after the half commenced. In the 71st minute, Lourdes Bosch finished well after a shot from Karly Roestbakken was saved.

After proving our worth at the top of the table, here is what we learned from the match:

We’re living in Mini’s world

Just as soon as the questions were being asked regarding Pollicina’s involvement and over-all performance this season, she comes through with yet another fantastic performance, comfortably taking out player-of-the-match in my mind.

Yes, Holly scored three, but Pollicina was absolutely everywhere against the Tarneit side. Be it a lovely ball forward to set Holly up, getting a goal herself, or placing an intricate pass behind the line for Roestbakken, Mini ran the show.

It is performances like this that prove exactly why Pollicina is still a star in the A-League.

A point has been made

After scoring only one goal in each of our last three games, the City women have sent a critical warning out to the rest of the league. Western United have been in some positive form as of late, certainly no push-overs this season. To gain three points in that sort of fashion is absolutely critical as the season edges closer to crunch time.

In only a few days, we’ll be playing our third match in seven days. If we’re to get all three points against the Jets in that one, the league is in serious trouble.

City’s emphatic victory over Western United not only showcased their attacking prowess but also instilled further trust in Mieres’ position in goal, and Taylor Otto’s consistency in defence. We have all the key ingredients to make history this season. Can we make it count?

McNamara continues to rise

Holly first-half hat-trick was the standout performance of the match. Her ability to find space, her ability to bounce back after missed chances, and her relentless work rate were on full display.

McNamara’s first goal came after a quick recovery from a missed initial attempt, showing her determination to make amends. Her second and third goals were a testament to her positioning and spontaneity, as she capitalised on defensive errors and exploited the goalkeeper’s positioning perfectly.

At just 22-years-old, McNamara is proving to be one of the most exciting talents in the league, and her performance against Western United will only heighten expectations for the remainder of the season. How long can we keep hold of her?

Next up is Newcastle away on Saturday the 8th of February. Up the Heart!

City has maintained its two-point lead atop the A-League Women table, snatching a late equaliser in yesterday’s Melbourne Derby at Casey Fields thanks to Mariana Speckmaier.

It was a contest lacking polish overall, with City making several sloppy turnovers in their defensive third, whilst Victory’s long-ball game suited its physically-dominant lineup. It was an errant pass to her centre-back from Alexia Apostolakis that the opposition’s Rachel Lowe was able to capitalise on, waltzing into the penalty area and slotting past Malena Mieres five minutes into the game.

Fortunately for City, a touch of composed class from half-time substitute Rhianna Pollicina saw the midfielder find a pinpoint centering pass for Speckmaier to redirect into the back of the net in the 89th minute, rescuing a point for City and keeping its now 17-game (all competitions) unbeaten streak alive, and just one short of the club’s all-time record.

Here’s what we learned from a sweltering afternoon at Casey:

Pollicina proves her worth

The assisting player for our crucial equaliser, Pollicina reminded City fans of her class in yesterday’s 45-minute performance.

It was her linking play with Holly McNamara that was perhaps most notable, with City’s #9 and #10 boasting some of the best technical ability in the lineup. Their combination play would have given fans fond reminders of recent seasons past, with the Pollicina-McNamara partnership being one of the staples of Melbourne City Women this decade.

Perhaps surprisingly, in what is widely considered to be an off year for her by fans and pundits, Pollicina:

• Leads the City squad overall for league assists
• Has two goals and three assists in the league overall
• Ranks 9th in the league for goal involvements per 90 minutes (0.66), ahead of any of her City teammates

With others in the attacking setup losing their spark, Pollicina may soon find herself back in the starting XI regularly.

Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Rotation incoming for Bosch?

‘Unbeaten’ feels too kind

Harsh, perhaps, but this City team has been in a spot of peril far more often than its unbeaten status reflects, and City was fortunate again yesterday not to have suffered a first defeat under Michael Matricciani.

The home side created very little throughout the contest, truly testing goalkeeper Courtney Newbon just once up until Speckmaier’s equaliser. On the other hand, whilst Malena Mieres had few actual statistical saves to make, this fact felt like it owed more to Victory’s shooting inaccuracy in big chances than our solidity at the back.

In City’s defence, it did feel like a poor 90 minutes of refereeing that the players also had to struggle against, and Matricciani’s side was unlucky not to receive a penalty for a clear Victory handball in our attacking penalty area in the game’s final minute, when the ball briefly became pinned against the opposition player’s hip with her hand.

For now, the streak lives on, but City next comes up against Western United, whom we also stole a point at the death against.

Here’s hoping for a more convincing performance this time around.