American striker Kennedy White stole the show at Wanderers Football Park on Sunday, scoring a superb hat-trick in less than 10 minutes as Melbourne Victory defeated Western Sydney 4-1 in the Ninja A-League.
Despite enjoying less of the ball, it was the home side who broke the deadlock in the 13th minute; full-back Danika Matos arriving at the far post to tap home Ella Buchanan’s dangerous ball across the face of goal.
Victory hit back on the approach to half-time as White latched on to a long ball over the top from goalkeeper Courtney Newbon before dispatching the ball beyond Sham Khamis to make it 1-1, and she wasn’t done there.
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White bagged her second of the game in first-half stoppage time as she raced clear of the Wanderers’ back line before finding the far corner with a low strike and the American then completed her hat-trick just three minutes into the second-half, as she tapped home from close range after good work from teammate Zoe McMeeken.
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White almost made it an even more memorable day as she was inches away from scoring a fourth, but while her header from a corner came crashing back off the crossbar it fell kindly to McMeeken, who was in the right place at the right time to make it 4-1 to Victory.
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The win for Melbourne Victory sees them bounce back from their opening round loss to Brisbane Roar, in what was head coach Jeff Hopkins’ 200th Ninja A-League game.
Furthermore, the win also saw Victory come from behind to win a game for the first time since January 20, 2024.
Meanwhile, defeat for Western Sydney Wanderers is their second of the season, with Geoff Abrahams’ side sat at the bottom of the ladder.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT THEY SAID
Hear from hat-trick hero Kennedy White after her stunning display in Victory’s 4-1 win over the Wanderers.
The Wanderers now find themselves oh-and-two after the opening two rounds of the new Ninja A-League season. Defender Danika Matos spoke to Paramount+.
