Reigning champion Melbourne Victory has cruised to its first win of the 2014/2015 Westfield W-League season with a 5-3 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at Breadmeadows Valley Park on Sunday.
Racheal Quigley and Keelin Winters netted a brace each for Victory and the Wanderers respectively, as Melbourne ran away with the contest in the second half.
American signing Christine Nairn was the orchestrator for Melbourne, contributing five assists in her first start since joining from Washington Spirit.
It was the visitors who struck first blood just after the 10-minute mark with Winters directing a well taken free-kick past Brianna Davey’s fingertips into the top corner.
Parity was restored nine minutes later as Amy Jackson clinically directed her header into the back of the net following Nairn’s corner.
Quigley then handed Victory the lead with her first goal for the club just prior to the 25-minute mark, delightfully chipping Wanderers custodian Trudy Burke.
Both sides enjoyed their fair share of momentum throughout an eventful first half as Melbourne entered the break with a 2-1 advantage.
Almost immediately after the restart Quigley bagged her second, exquisitely teed up by Nairn.
Lisa De Vanna then contributed with Melbourne’s fourth only minutes after Quigley’s second with a nonchalant finish following a precise ball from Nairn.
Western Sydney pulled one back and maintained touching distance with Victory just before the hour mark.
Hannah Beard’s sumptuous through ball sliced through Victory’s defensive line, with Winters poking in her second of the afternoon.
Substitute Gulcan Koca re-asserted Melbourne’s three-goal deficit in the 74th minute, following up Nairn’s parried strike into an open net.
Gema Simon came agonisingly close to adding a sixth for Melbourne, striking her effort into the crossbar as the woodwork denied Victory on a second occasion.
Western Sydney added a late consolation in the 93rd minute, punishing a defensive error.
Michelle Carney capitalised on Emma Checker’s errant back-pass, slotting in her side’s third passed a hapless Brianna Davey just moments before full time was signalled.
Melbourne Victory 5 (Jackson 20′, Quigley 24′ 47′, De Vanna 52′, Koca 74′) defeated Western Sydney Wanderers (Winters 12′ 56′, Carney 90’+3) at Broadmeadows Valley Park [HT 2-1]
Melbourne Victory: 1. Brianna DAVEY (GK), 2. Hannah BREWER, 7. Stephanie CATLEY (C), 8. Amy Jackson, 9. Racheal QUIGLEY (17. Gulcan KOCA 69′), 10. Christine NAIRN, 11. Lisa DE VANNA (14. Tiffany ELIADIS 76′), 12. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 15. Emma CHECKER, 16. Beatrice GOAD (6. Gema SIMON 59′), 19. Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY.
Unused substitutes: 20. Cassandra DIMOVSKI (GK).
Yellow cards: None.
Red cards: None.
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1. Trudy BURKE (GK), 2. Caitlin COOPER (C), 3. Jessica SEAMAN, 5. Helen PETINOS (13. Jordan BAKER 83′), 6. Rachael SOUTAR, 8. Grace HENRY, 9. Keelin WINTERS, 10. Michelle CARNEY, 12. Hannah BEARD (15. Rhianna POLLICINA 76′), 14. Demi KOULIZAKIS 19. Chloe O’BRIEN.
Unused substitutes: 20. Shamiran KHAMIS (GK), 18. Tia GAVIN.
Yellow cards: Petinos (71)
Red cards: None
