Melbourne Victory advanced to the Ninja A-League semi-finals with a 3-1 win against Canberra United on Saturday.
Two goals in three first-half minutes allowed Victory to play from in front and withstand Canberra’s best attempts at a comeback.
A Rachel Lowe goal and Ella O’Grady double kept Victory out in front despite Canberra grabbing a goal back through Sasha Grove.
Victory advance to a two-leg semi-final against premier Melbourne City, the games will be the third and fourth time a Melbourne Derby has been played in finals.
The first flashpoint came in the seventh minute when a Rhianna Pollicina cross from the left hit the arm of Canberra defender Emma Robers. With no VAR the on-field call of referee Caitlin Williams stood leaving Victory to protest in vain.
But Victory would take the lead soon after from a Pollicina corner. Rachel Lowe was first to react in the penalty area and volley in after Sally James saved a header from Claudia Bunge.
Victory then rode the momentum to a 2-0 lead when Ella O’Grady bundled in a Pollicina cross from the left.
It could have been three when a Pollicina set Holly Furphy clear one-on-one against Sally James only for the Canberra goalkeeper to save Furphy’s shot.
From nearly 3-0 down to back in the contest, Canberra would hit back a minute later with a break of their own. After clearing the corner from James’ save, Sahsa Grove crashed through a Taylor Ray challenge then capitalised on a Chelsea Blissett attempt to pass back to Laura Pickett.
Grove ran half the pitch with the Victory defence in pursuit, finishing beyond Courtney Newbon.
Canberra could have drawn level before half time but Emma Hawkins skied close-range header on the end of a Michelle Heyman cross.
But all the Canberra momentum going into half-time was arrested by a Victory third goal just six minutes after the resumption.
Holly Furphy intercepted an Emma Robers pass out of defence and delivered a cross to Ella O’Grady, who flew to head in while colliding with Canberra’s Tegan Bertolissio and Bethany Gordon.
The remainder of the game was more of an arm-wrestle than free-flowing, albeit with Canberra substitute Sienna Dale having some half-chances to try to reduce the deficit.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT THEY SAID
Melbourne Victory’s Chelsea Blissett speaks after the full-time whistle.
Ninja Player of the Match Ella O’Grady from Melbourne Victory.
Melbourne Victory captain Kayla Morrison.
Melbourne Victory coach Jeff Hopkins.
Canberra United coach Antoni Jagarinec.
