First W-League Melbourne derby falls in City’s favour

Melbourne City defeated rivals Melbourne Victory 2-1 in the W-League’s first Melbourne derby, as it moved to the top of the table with two wins from as many games.

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City squandered a host of chances in the first half although it was Victory which came into the break feeling hard-done by.

Tyla Jay Vlajnic had hooked Mindy Barbieri’s looping effort off the line, when the Victory player believed she had scored. Replays suggested the ball may well have crossed the line. 

The ever-dangerous Alexandra Chidiac had the best of City’s chances as she sliced wide an effort in the 43rd minute.

A quick start in the second period saw City take the lead as it tore up the pitch from goalkeeper Trudy Burke’s long kick.

Following a clever flick-on, Racheal Quigley fed Amy Jackson before she provided the final assist for Marianna Tabain to poke the ball home.

There was plenty of end-to-end action before City doubled its lead in the 70^th minute as Aivi Luik converted a penalty after Tabain was brought down in the box.

However, substitute Whitney Knight ensured it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Victory as she grabbed her first senior goal, at the age of only 15, clipping the ball over Burke from the edge of the area in the dying moments.

Meanwhile, reigning champion Canberra United bounced back from defeat at Brisbane to record an impressive 3-0 win over the visior, Sydney FC.

The Roar, for their part, won by the same scoreline at a luckless Western Sydney Wanderers, with all three goals coming in the final half-hour.

Newcastle Jets showed promise by opening their campaign with a hard-won scoreless draw, having made the long trip to premier Perth Glory.