City move six points clear after shooting down Jets

Westfield W-League leaders Melbourne City have moved six points clear atop the table following a solid 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets on Saturday afternoon.

City extended their unbeaten run to nine matches this season – and posted an eighth consecutive win – as they dominated their seventh-placed opponents for extended periods at AAMI Park.

Milica Mijatovic delivered the perfect start for Rado Vidosic’s side with a seventh minute opener, before Emily van Egmond’s strike early in the second half sealed the win.

Looking capitalise on second-placed Sydney FC’s draw earlier in the round, City threatened from the get-go and took an early lead after Mijatovic steered a well-placed shot beyond the diving Claire Coelho in the Jets’ goal.

Already on the backfoot, the Jets’ suffered another blow on 12 minutes when they were forced to substitute attacking midfielder Nikki Flannery with injury.

City continued to pile on the pressure but spurned chances to double their lead as Kyah Simon’s 16^th minute and Steph Catley’s 18^th minute attempts both faded wide of the target.

Check out all the stats in the Match Centre

MORE: Captain Catley reveals key to City’s title hopes
NEWS: Raso departs Roar for English Super League side Everton

Simon continued to prove the attacking go-to for City – with Mijatovic, Catley and Claire Emslie also heavily involved – but was increasingly frustrated as a further attempts failed to test Coelho prior to the half-hour.

On the back-foot for much of the contest, the Jets began to fashion opportunities as half-time approach but could not capitalise as Cassidy Davis headed wide from a Libby Copus-Brown free-kick in the 36^th minute before Teigan Collister’s ambitious long-range attempt also went wide shortly after.

A final chance before the break fell the way of the hosts when an inviting ball presented for Emslie at the back post that she scooped her shot high of the crossbar.

City made amends for their wastefulness shortly after the restart as Emily van Egmond capitalised in the 50^th minute with a firm drive into the bottom corner on the back of a pass from Rebekah Stott.

The Jets threatened a comeback prior to the hour as Jenna Kingsley’s drew a save on the angle and Tara Andrews headed wide, however, City remained the greater threat as Catley pushed a 60^th minute strike across the Jets’ goal face.

The tit-for-tat continued as the Jets’ Lauren Allan shot high of the target in the 70^th minute, only to draw an immediate response as City substitute Rhali Dobson drew a pair of stops from Coelho just minutes after entering the fray.

City continued to turn the screws as the match entered the final quarter hour – Aivi Luik firing wide and Emslie drawing a save – as the Jets saw late attempts on goal from Collister and Allan fail to deliver late consolation.

An injury time free-kick from proved the last opportunity of the game for City, with Coelho pushing Emslie’s effort wide of the near post.

The Jets have never defeated City in their nine meetings dating back to City’s debut 2015 season, but remain the only team to have taken a point off the league-leaders this season following their opening round draw.

Key Moments

Mijatovic opens accounts early for City

The hosts made a bright start and were on the scoresheet in a matter of minutes through Milica Mijatovic.

The Serbian attacker delivered a pin-point finish after being picked out by Kyah Simon’s cross on the bounce for her fourth goal of the campaign.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6124554148001

Van Egmond doubles the lead with pin-point finish

After failing to capitalise further on their first-half dominance, City made a point of finding the back of the net early in the second stanza.

On the back of solid build-up, van Egmond was teed up outside 20 yards and drove her shot through a crowded penalty box into the bottom corner for her fifth goal of the season.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6124557412001

Jets can’t convert on the counter

The Jets had to wait until the second stanza for their best chance of the contest – coming on the back of a City turnover in the 54th minute.

A lively counter-attack saw Tara Andrews find Jenna Kingsley in space in the box but her strike on the angle was gobbled up by City goalkeeper Lydia Williams.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6124561775001

Coelho prevents another in injury time

City sought to push their advantage until the last and went in search of a third from a late free-kick from Claire Emslie.

With the dipping shot threatening to sneak in at the near post, Coelho made a sharp stop to push the strike wide on a busy afternoon for the Jets’ shot-stopper

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6124557151001