Western United have kicked off life within the A-League Girls competitors in type with an upset 1-0 win over defending champions Melbourne Victory of their opening match.
Key factors:
- Western United are the most recent workforce to hitch the A-League Girls competitors
- Jessica McDonald scored United’s profitable objective
- Victory threatened to equalise however couldn’t discover the again of the online
Star American signing Jessica McDonald scored within the 54th minute to seal a historic win in blustery situations at Melbourne’s Metropolis Vista Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
It was a deserved win for United after they dealt with the troublesome climate much better than Victory, who had Matildas’ Alex Chidiac and Elise Kellond-Knight amongst their starters.
United striker Hannah Keane always threatened, whereas Guyana defender Sydney Cummings marshalled their defence with aplomb in entrance of two,753 spectators.
Matildas midfielder Chloe Logarzo got here on as a second-half substitute for United and confirmed glimpses of her finest type, together with going shut with a late free kick.
Victory dominated possession early however struggled to make use of the heavy wind at their backs.
They need to have led within the sixteenth minute when Chidiac teed up Melina Ayres however the striker swung wildly and blasted her shot over the bar.
A minute later, Ayres lashed a long-range strike over, nevertheless United dominated proceedings from this level.
Victory left-back Natalie Tathem got here off within the thirty second minute after hurting her left wrist in a collision with Francesca Iermano.
Within the 5 minutes Tathem was off, United virtually scored twice.
Within the thirty fourth minute, Keane skimmed a shot simply over the bar and seconds later dragged the ball simply broad of Casey Dumont’s close to publish.
United opened the scoring when Adriana Taranto’s free kick was blocked however her sister Melissa whipped the ball again into the 18-yard field.
Keane compelled a save from Dumont however 2019 Girls’s World Cup winner McDonald pounced on the rebound.
Victory ought to have equalised within the 61st minute when Ayres slipped via Chidiac to ship her one-on-one with Hillary Beall.
However the playmaker’s chip drifted broad.
Victory threatened one final time when Beattie Goad beat Cummings within the 83rd minute and located Catherine Zimmerman.
However the striker had consecutive pictures blocked as United held on for a memorable win.
AAP
