Late Jones strike the difference as City break Wanderers hearts

Melbourne City are within striking distance of the top four after they overcame Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 in a gritty encounter at ANZ Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Goals to Tameka Butt and substitute Adriana Jones cancelled out a spectacular opening strike from Georgia Yeoman-Dale as the Wanderers came close to breaking their winless run.

Telstra Banner HAL

Western Sydney couldn’t have wished for a better start to Westfield W-League action in 2019 when Yeoman-Dale took a chance in the 14th minute.

With City goalkeeper Lydia Williams off her line, Yeoman-Dale received the ball in space about 25 yards out and took her shot first-time, the ball curling into the left corner.

Despite falling behind City continued their dominance on the ball, racking up close to 70 per cent possession in what were debilitating conditions.

The home side seemed content to just sit back and allow the defending Champions to have the ball and looked quite comfortable until a defensive lapse in the 38th minute proved costly.

City midfielder Butt received the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and was given both space and time by the Wanderers defence to shift onto her left foot and fire off a looping shot that shot stopper Nicole Simonsen before falling under the crossbar.

The visitors continued their control after the break and created a flux of chances as they looked to break the home side’s resilience.

Catley on the ball

Butt unleashed another threatening strike but her effort flew past the post while Jasmyne Spencer was called back for offside after she had put the ball into the back of the net.

Adriana Jones and Rhali Dobson both went close for City and despite Western Sydney creating a few half chances themselves the outcome looked inevitable.

The moment arrived 10 minutes from time when Dobson put Jones through on goal before the City striker rounded Simonsen and rolled the ball into an empty net.

The home side pushed hard for an equaliser late on, Elizabeth Addo and Yeoman-Dale coming close, but it wasn’t to be as City took all three points to move to the cusp of the top four.

Live Free Banner