Holly McNamara marked her CommBank Matildas call-up with a stunning first-half hat-trick as Ninja A-League leaders Melbourne City defeated Western United for the first time thanks to a 5-1 rout.
McNamara scored three goals in 38 minutes to help preserve City’s unbeaten season while celebrating an historic first against rivals Western United on Wednesday evening.
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Midweek, McNamara celebrated her second career A-Leagues hat-trick. After trading goals with fellow Australia international and Western United captain Chloe Logarzo, she scored twice before half-time to inspire the win and make it five goals in four games and six in nine since returning from a third ACL injury in December, which was capped by Rhianna Pollicina and Lourdes Bosch in the second half.
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City – who equalled their club record for 18 games unbeaten, matching the 2015-16 feat – are five points clear atop the standings through 15 games, while Western are sixth and could end the round outside the top six.
Rescheduled from Tuesday to Wednesday due to warm weather in Melbourne, City entered the contest having never beaten Western United since the Green and Black entered the competition in 2022.
But spearheaded by McNamara, City were a team on a mission at ctrl:cyber Pitch.
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It took McNamara just three minutes to break the deadlock. She initially saw her shot saved by Matildas teammate Chloe Lincoln but coolly converted the rebound.
McNamara found herself clean through on goal again in the 20th minute. With plenty of time on her hands, she raced towards goal but Lincoln stood tall to deny the City star.
Western, though, responded well to falling behind in pursuit of an equaliser and they restored parity approaching the half-hour mark.
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A long-range thunderbolt from Logarzo brought the visitors level after City had coughed up possession outside the box.
Just as Western appeared to have tilted the momentum in their favour, McNamara turned the match on its head with two goals in two minutes to complete her hat-trick.
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After Malena Mieres produced a fine save to keep out Logarzo, McNamara benefited from a mazing run from Bosch as she poked home from six yards in the 36th minute.
A nonchalant lob from McNamara then saw the Australia international score for the third time moments later.
Mieres preserved City’s two-goal cushion heading into the interval while she was left scrambling 10 minutes into the second half as Logarzo’s wild long-range effort cannoned off the crossbar.
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City put the result beyond doubt after an hour of play when Pollicina found the back of the net following a superb assist via Mariana Speckmaier.
The relentless home side were not done there. Bosch got herself on the scoresheet 19 minutes from the end – the American’s seventh goal of the season across all competitions.
