Little fires City to W-League glory

Kim Little's stunning free kick was the pick of Melbourne City's goals as they claimed the W-League championship with a 4-1 grand final triumph over Sydney FC.

Melbourne City, the team that doesn't know how to lose, are the W-League champions after a 4-1 grand final victory over Sydney FC.

Goals from Scottish duo Jen Beattie and best-afield Kim Little set City on their way to adding the W-League championship to the premiership in their debut season.

Kyah Simon replied with a dubiously-awarded penalty to give City a late scare but Beatrice Goad and Lisa De Vanna made the game safe.

The result was deserved, both for their enterprise on Sunday at AAMI Park and their dominance since their admission to the league in October.

Joe Montemurro's side have swept all aside; winning all 12 regular season matches and capping their campaign with grand final success.

Sydney played their part in an entertaining end-to-end decider, but didn't have the same cutting edge provided by City's star imports.

City's opening goal was fashioned and delivered from Scotland.

Aberdeen-born midfielder Little sent in the chance and Beattie tucked it home.

Beattie's towering header was saved by Sydney goalkeeper Michelle Betos onto the post, but the Glasgow-raised defender reacted quickest to poke home a deft finish.

Ten minutes after the break, Little won a paper-scissor-rock battle to take a free kick, and made it count.

From 25 metres out, the 25-year-old curled home to the top near corner beyond Betos at full-stretch.

City were cruising but fell victim to a sucker punch with 20 minutes remaining.

Referee Kate Jacewicz adjudged Beattie's clash with Alanna Kennedy worthy of a penalty, which Simon dispatched well.

Kennedy's audacious cross shortly after needed Brianna Davey's full attention but that was as close as Sydney came to an equaliser.

De Vanna, who troubled Sydney's defence all afternoon, played through 18-year-old Goad to finish the one-on-one.

The Matildas captain was rewarded for her own gut-busting performance, dashing clear of the Sydney defence and dinking the ball home to light up the 4,206-strong crowd.

Montemurro said the magnitude of their success during the campaign - 14 wins from 14, 42 goals scored and just five conceded - was yet to sink in.

"I just think this bunch of players is a special group," he said.

"The results and the wins and the goals for and goals against, we trained for it and worked for it every day and it happened."

Sydney FC coach Dan Barrett said his side gave everything they had.

"The 4-1 scoreline might have had a bit to do with the way we threw players forward at the end," he said.

"Melbourne City have been the best team all year and they were the best team today."


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Source: AAP



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