Dream debut! Furphy fires as Victory beat Sydney FC to go top of the league

Check out the highlights from the Round 13 Big Blue clash between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC in the Ninja A-League

A debut goal from Holly Furphy and a goal-of-the-season contender from Alan Jancevski moved Melbourne Victory to the top of the Ninja A-League after they defeated Sydney FC 2-0 in the Big Blue.

The 32nd meeting between these two sides got off to a flyer thanks to a stunning free-kick from Jancevski, who curled an unstoppable effort into the top corner in just the fourth minute.

Desperately searching for a way back into the game, Sydney had a string of good chances in the second-half; Abbey Lemon going closest as her snap-shot was brilliantly saved on the line by Courtney Newbon and the home side then went and won it.

Introduced in the 68th minute for her Ninja A-League debut, new signing Furphy took just nine minutes to find the back of the net as slotted home Victory’s second to make it 2-0.

The result moves the home side to the Ninha A-League summit and one point ahead of Melbourne City while Sydney FC remain languishing in ninth spot.

Aiming to win three Big Blues in a row for the first time in club history, Melbourne Victory got off to a dream start.

With Mackenzie Hawkesby shown a yellow card after just two minutes following a high boot on the edge of her own box, Jancevski stepped up and bent a quite incredible free-kick into the top corner.

“That is unsaveable – what a strike into the corner!”

Paramount+ commentator Teo Pellizzeri on Jancevski’s goal

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Wrapping her left-foot around the ball, Jancevski’s effort flew past Sydney FC keeper Brianna Edwards and into the postage stamp to make it 1-0 after just four minutes.

Sensing the nerves amongst their opponents, Victory then could have had a second in the 10th minute, however Alex Chidiac’s side-footed effort flew over the bar after she pounced on a loose ball inside the box from a corner.

Victory skipper Kayla Morrison was almost left red-faced in the 26th minute as her attempted header back to Courtney Newbon almost crept in at the near post however the keeper was alive to the danger and spared her teammate’s blushes.

Despite being largely second best the away side almost dragged themselves level in the 40th minute however Caley Tallon-Henniker’s well-crafted volley bounced inches wide of the target.

Growing in confidence, the young winger then burst forward on the break just a minute later however the 18-year-old’s effort from a tight angle was easily saved by Newbon.

The home side were dealt a blow at the break with goalscorer Jancevski withdrawn before the second-half got underway, with suggestions she may have been struggling after taking a ball to the head earlier in the game.

Teenage star Indiana Dos Santos almost delivered the spark her side so desperately needed, whipping a dangerous corner into the box which would have gone straight in were it not for some solid keeping from Newbon.

Substitute Abbey Lemon then had a sight of goal in the 62nd minute while Margaux Chauvet fired over from inside the box less than 60 seconds later, but Sydney FC were beginning to crank up the pressure.

Officially signed as an injury-replacement for Paige Zois, young forward Holly Furphy was introduced for her Ninja A-League debut in the 68th minute.

Sydney FC keeper Edwards then almost came unstuck at a Victory corner, eventually scrambling to clear a header off the line after initially failing to clear a high ball into the box.

Lemon was then inches away from bagging the equaliser but was denied on the line thanks to a point-blank save from Newbon and Victory then went straight up the other end and sealed the win.

Racing onto a through ball, Furphy rounded keeper Edwards and coolly slotted the ball into the empty net to bag a goal jut nine minutes after coming on.

The 2-0 win sends Jeff Hopkins’ side a point clear of Melbourne City at the top of the Ninja A-League, albeit before their local rivals take to the field on Saturday.

As for Sydney FC, Ante Juric’s team remain ninth on the ladder after what is their seventh defeat from 13 matches this season.