Goals in each half from Jess Fishlock and Beverly Yanez saw Melbourne City win the Westfield W-League Grand Final with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Perth Glory.
City’s victory sees them become the first team to record successive Westfield W-League crowns.
Sunny skies and a buoyant 4591 crowd – a record for a Westfield W-League Grand Final – made for a festive atmosphere at nib Stadium in Perth.
The match sprung to life in the latter stages of the first half with chances at both ends.
Melbourne City had the better of first-half possession, but Perth Glory always looked dangerous with early balls to star forward Sam Kerr, and indeed it was the home side who had more efforts on goal.
Glory’s midfield dynamo Vanessa DiBernardo lifted a shot narrowly over the crowbar onto the roof of the net.
Jaymee Gibbons did likewise a few minutes later, while in between Melbourne City’s Yanez fired over with a spectacular strike.
The decisive moment of the half came in added time as Fishlock netted with City’s first attempt on target. American pair Erika Tymrak and Yanez delightfully exchanged passes and the former pulled the ball back for player of the match Fishlock to steer her effort inside the far post.
Despite the setback, Perth impressed in the second half dominating possession for long periods.
City did well to absorb a significant amount of pressure, with goalkeeper Lydia Williams always looking a tough final line of defence to breach.
At the other end, Perth goalkeeper Gabby Dal Busco made a superb block at the feet of the onrushing Fishlock.
Notable among a number of half chances for Perth fell to Kerr who leapt expertly, only to push her header agonisingly just wide of the post.
It proved a costly miss as City doubled their advantage a within a matter of minutes. Yanez’s curling cross crept under the crossbar with the help of an unfortunate touch from Dal Busco.
Kerr failed to convert a glorious opening past the exposed Williams after outpacing the defence, but despite throwing everything at their opponents there was to be no consolation for the home side.
