Reigning Ninja A-League Champions Melbourne City put on a five-star showing on Sunday night, thrashing Sydney FC 5-0 at Allianz Stadium.
Kick off was delayed by an hour and five minutes in Sydney due to lightning strikes in the area but when we did get underway, it was former Sydney FC ace Cortnee Vine who struck first inside 12 minutes, converting Aideen Keane’s inviting cross to make it 1-0.
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Three minutes later and it was 2-0 to the visitors as off-season signing Momo Hayashi made it two goals in two games as she lashed a powerful drive into the bottom corner, and from then on the floodgates opened.
Vine almost had a second as she rattled the crossbar with an effort from close range but it was 3-0 before long as New Zealand midfielder Deven Jackson curled a sumptuous effort into the far corner, leaving Sydney FC dead and buried before half-time.
To make matters worse, Sydney FC captain Charlotte McLean made it two own goals in two games as she headed Vine’s cross into her own net after a mix-up with goalkeeper Tiahna Robertson, and it was 4-0 at the break.
Melbourne City had a plethora of chances to extend their lead and they did so in the 53rd minute when Sydney FC substitute Megan Mifsud brought down Keane inside the box and the referee had little choice but to point to the spot.
Yet to etch her name onto the scoresheet, striker Melina Ayres eventually added her name to list of goalscorers as she thumped the spot kick beyond the reaches of Robertson and into the back of the net.
On a quiet night for the Sydney attack, American Faith Webber fired straight at City keeper Malena Mieres when afforded a sight of goal whilst McLean then cleared one off the line at the other before she was seen to be clutching her hamstring, in what was a potentially worrying sign for Sydney FC boss James Slaveski.
The result leaves Sydney sat in eighth place on the ladder after drawing 2-2 with Adelaide United on the opening weekend of the season.
As for Melbourne City, Michael Matricciani’s side now head overseas to take part in the AFC Women’s Champions League, where they’ll take on Uzbekistans’ Nasaf Qarshi, Kaya FC of the Philippines and Chinese side Beijing Beikong before returning to Ninja A-League action in Matchweek 5.
