Melbourne City and CommBank Matildas star Holly McNamara scored her first goal since returning from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to fire her side to a 3-1 win over Adelaide United on Friday afternoon.
McNamara made her long-awaited comeback in Round 6, ending her 392-day absence from competitive football in City’s 4-2 win over Canberra United last weekend; the 21-year-old came off the bench for the second-consecutive game in City’s away trip to Adelaide and scored the sealing goal in a 3-1 triumph over the Reds.
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City’s away win was inspired by Mariana Speckmaier’s opening goal just 26 seconds after kick-off, and although the hosts did equalise through a Rebekah Stott own goal, a Tyla-Jay Vlajnic screamer from a tight angle put City back on top before McNamara iced the contest in the second half.
The only team without a loss after six rounds, City kept their unbeaten start to the season alive on Friday afternoon and sailed five points clear of Brisbane Roar in second, with all teams except City and Adelaide still to play this weekend.
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City got off to a dream start with less than 30 seconds on the clock when Speckmaier’s curling effort from just inside the penalty area beat Adelaide keeper Claudia Jenkins and nestled into the bottom-right corner.
But before the 10-minute mark, Adelaide were level and it was an error from City keeper Melissa Barbieri that allowed the hosts back into the game.
Barbieri failed to control Rebekah Stott’s backpass as the ball trickled over the line.
Speckmaier’s opener was a beauty but Vlajnic’s 41st-minute effort was the goal of the game, driven into the top-right corner off the full-back’s left boot in some style.
City peppered Adelaide’s goal through the second half but Jenkins kept her side in the game with a series of saves – however, when McNamara came off the bench in the 70th minute, it spelt danger for the Reds.
Just four minutes after coming off the bench, McNamara slotted home a calm finish in a one-on-one with Jenkins to put City two goals clear.
It was the Matildas winger’s first Ninja A-League goal since November 19, 2023; McNamara scored two goals against the Jets on that day before succumbing to the ACL injury that ended her 2023-24 campaign.
In Adelaide on Friday, 397 days after suffering the third ACL tear of her young career, McNamara announced her return to form with City’s third of the game to seal all three points at Coopers Stadium.
“She’s back! Holly Mac is back!” Exclaimed Network 10 commentator Kate Allman as the ball rippled the back of the net.
