Melbourne City put on an absolute clinic in Vietnam on Sunday evening, thrashing Filipino side Stallion Laguna FC 7-0, however the Ninja A-League side will be left sweating over the fitness of star forward Holly McNamara.
Having eased past Lion City Sailors of Singapore in their opening group-stage fixture, Melbourne City wasted little time in putting their Filipino opponents to the sword in Vietnam on matchday two.
Racing clear of the Stallion Laguna backline, CommBank Matildas star Holly McNamara fired a low shot towards goal which was parried by the keeper but only into the path of the arriving Aideen Keane who reacted quicker than the defence to slot home the opener in the fifth minute.
Four minutes later and it was 2-0 to the reigning Ninja A-League Premiers as captain Rebekah Stott was given the freedom of the pitch before crossing for Leah Davidson to head home her first ever City goal.
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Despite their fast start things quickly soured for City with star forward McNamara forced from the field with a leg injury before the half-hour mark.
Looking to receive the ball from a City throw-in, McNamara fell to the floor in agony and was seen clutching her left calf, despite replays suggesting she wasn’t touched by her opposing defender.
In what head coach Michael Matricciani will hope is a positive, McNamara was up on her feet after a few minutes and subsequently able to hobble round the side of the pitch towards the dugout after being substituted for Danella Butrus, who herself would have an immediate impact on the game.
Racing down the City left, Butrus was fouled as she entered the area, leaving the referee little choice but to point to the spot and midfielder Leticia McKenna duly slammed home the spotkick to make it 3-0 in the 40th minute.
Not done there, McKenna then grabbed her second and City’s fourth on the stroke of half-time as she stabbed the ball beyond the keeper from a tight angle after yet more good work from Butrus down the left-hand side.
The heavens had opened in Vietnam and it was also raining goals as well; Deven Jackson firing her shot across the keeper and into the far corner to make it 5-0 while Butrus then added a goal to her two assists as she slid in at the far post to fire home City’s sixth of the afternoon.
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Matricciani’s side then completed the rout in the 90th minute as Caitlin Karic strolled down the right before cutting the ball back into the path of Jackson, who cooly slotted home for her second of the game and City’s seventh.
The result leaves City sat top of Group A with two wins from two ahead of their final group stage fixture against Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC on Wednesday.
