Young Matildas forward Kahli Johnson scored two goals within three minutes to inspire Western United to a 3-1 win over Central Coast Mariners on Sunday evening.
The 20-year-old rising star was the difference between two sides at Industree Group Stadium, producing moments of quality in the 57th and 60th minute to set the tone for an impressive win in Gosford.
Grace Maher scored a sensational free-kick late in the game to make it 3-0 before Central Coast’s local product Annalise Rasmussen bagged a consolation goal in the 89th minute.
The 3-1 win sent Western soaring above Central Coast and up to fourth on the Ninja A-League table. For the Mariners, meanwhile, the home clash turned into a wasted opportunity to break into the top six as Emily Husband’s side suffered a second-consecutive defeat.
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Aimee Medwin had the best chance of the first half for the visitors but couldn’t divert her first-time effort on target after an excellent piece of wing play from Kahli Johnson, who delivered to a dangerous area for Medwin to attack.
Chloe Logarzo put Mariners keeper Sarah Langman to the test on the half-hour mark, turning her defender before firing a shot on target from well outside the box which Langman did well to tip over the bar.
Keiwa Hieda also had an opportunity to put Western on top but Willacy was up to the task of keeping the Western attacker off the scoresheet, closing the space to smother the shot from a tight angle.
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Having produced little attacking threat in the first half, the Mariners almost broke the deadlock shortly after the break but Shadeene Evans couldn’t take advantage of a dangerous cross towards the six-yard box.
Evans leapt at the ball but made insufficient contact as the chance went begging.
The chances continued to flow for the Mariners early in the second half but when Annabel Martin found Peta Trimis unmarked at the back post, the Young Matilda couldn’t capitalise as the ball ricocheted off her thigh and away from danger.
The Mariners’ wasted chances proved costly as Johnson scored twice in quick succession to put Western two goals ahead in Gosford.
Johnson’s first of the evening was set up by Kiara De Domizio, whose cross found the Young Matilda all alone at the back post for an unmarked header.
Three minutes later, Johnson sealed her brace. Played in behind the Mariners’ defensive line by Medwin’s raking through ball, Johnson went one-on-one with Langman and rounded the Mariners keeper before slotting her shot into an empty net.
Maher looked to have iced the game at 3-0 in the 87th minute when her audacious effort direct from a free-kick stumped Mariners keeper Langman and found its way into the top-right corner.
But there was to be a late consolation for the Mariners, as Rasmussen pounced on a spilled save from Chloe Lincoln to find the back of the net from close range.
