Melbourne Victory are now just five points behind Ninja A-League league leaders Melbourne City after defeating rivals Western United 2-1 in a tight encounter at Ironbark Fields on Saturday.
Victory took the game to Western in the early stages and broke the deadlock in the 10th minute courtesy of striker Holly Furphy in Tarneit.
Western equalised on the stroke of half-time in somewhat fortuitous fashion as CommBank Matildas forward Emily Gielnik steered the ball into her own net as she attempted to clear a Kahli Johnson header.
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The away side began the second-half brightly though and restored their lead through captain Kayla Morrison as she powered home a header from an early corner.
Victory had chances to further extend their lead while Western pushed hard for a late leveller but the away side held on to seal the win which moves them to within five points of rivals City at the top of the standings.
As for Western, defeat means Kat Smith’s side remain fourth on the ladder but could drop down to fifth place should Brisbane Roar beat Sydney FC on Sunday afternoon.
The away side applied the early pressure and almost took the lead in the ninth minute as goalkeeper Alyssa Dall’Oste prevented an early own goal, tipping Sasha Grove’s attempted clearance round the post.
However, the deadlock was broken from the resulting corner as the ball fell kindly for Furphy and the forward did the rest, drilling a low shot into the far corner to make it 1-0.
Western looked to respond quickly as captain Chloe Logarzo stung the palms of keeper Courtney Newbown from distance with a fierce shot that moved in the air.
Playing in her last game for the club before moving overseas, Johnson sent a sighter wide of Newbon’s near post before then taking aim from distance as Western looked to up the ante and their equaliser came on the stroke of half-time.
An in-swinging corner into the box was met by the head of Johnson and while her effort wasn’t overly dangerous, the subsequent clearance by Gielnik bounced towards goal and ended up in the back of the net after some confusion between Newbon and Morrison.
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Pegged back at the break, Victory responded well in the second-half though and re-took the lead through Morrison, who leapt highest to power home Alana Jancevski’s corner.
Victory were then inches away from making it 3-1 in the 57th minute as Rachel Lowe’s driven effort was brilliantly cleared off the line by the retreating Claudia Mihocic, who remarkably changed direction to steer the ball inches wide of the post.
Adriana Taranto took aim from distance in the 70th minute, sending a vicious shot narrowly over the bar as the home side began to crank up the pressure however Victory defended resolutely.
With what was almost the last kick of the game, Western threw bodies forward for a freekick in the dying stages but goalkeeper Newbon clawed the ball away from danger to protect her side’s lead and ensure Victory moved to within five points of Melbourne City.
