Two well-taken goals capped off a dominant display by the Melbourne Victory in their historic 2-0 opening encounter against Central Coast in the Westfield W-League.
The Victory signaled their intent from the outset with some excellent forward pressure in the second minute resulting in a dangerous loose ball for Rebecca Tegg who fired tamely at Mariner goalkeeper Lisa Hartley, who collected comfortably.
Louisa Bisby controlled the midfield in the opening exchanges and a heavy clash earned Victory a free kick which Marlies Oostdam fired wide from 20 metres. Oostdam was again prominent from a dead-ball situation in the 12th minute, curling a corner just wide.
The chances kept coming for the Victory with Bisby and Brittany Timko combining well to provide a clear chance for Timko from 10 metres which again was pushed wide.
Kyah Simon was busy in the midfield for the Mariners and put Stephanie Haim through on 21 minutes on the left only to be cut out by the outstanding Laura Alleway. Simon’s good work earned a free kick in the 33rd minute on the edge of the Victory box. Renee Rollason lined up to take it but was denied by a brilliant diving save by Melissa Barbieri.
A frustrating first half ended with yet another Victory miss with Tegg turning her opponent well only to shoot over during injury time.
The second half opened with more of the same for Victory. Timko was causing plenty of problems and earned a free kick which Oostdam curled in spectacularly from close to the sideline for a brilliant opener in the 54th minute.
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It was to be some nervous Mariner defence in the 60th minute which allowed Tegg in for a one-on-one with the Mariners’ ‘keeper. A delightful chip from Tegg left Hartley stranded and the Victory had a second.
Oostdam and Timko continued to cause headaches for the Mariners with Timko getting some well-deserved applause when substituted for Sophie Hogben in the 65th minute. Oostdam put the icing on a best afield display with a goal saving block 11 minutes from time.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory 2 (Marlies Oostdam 52-, Rebecca Tegg 60-)
Central Coast Mariners 0
Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Saturday 25 October 2008
Referee: Lee Corey
Melbourne Victory line-up: 1.Melissa BARBIERI (gk), 3.Marlies OOSTDAM, 4.Tal KARP (c), 5.Laura ALLEWAY, 6.Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY, 7.Sarah GROENEWALD, 8.Louisa BISBY, 9.Rebecca TEGG (17.Alisha FOOTE 66-), 11.Brittany TIMKO (12.Sophie HOGBEN 63-), 15.Daniela DIGGIAMMARCO, 19.Enza BARILLA (16.Bronwyn NUTLEY 78-)
Substitutes not used: 20.Nicole PAUL (gk)
Yellow cards: Tal Karp 13-, Louisa Bisby 67-, Bronwyn Nutley 93-
Red Cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners line-up: 20.Lisa HARTLEY (gk), 2.Caitlin COOPER (c), 3.Lyndsay GLOHE, 4.Rachael DOYLE, 6.Karina ROWETH, 7.Teresa POLIAS (14.Taryn ROCKALL 83-), 8.Renee ROLLASON, 10.Kyah SIMON, 11.Stephanie HAIM (17.Britt SIMMONS 56-), 12.Gill FOSTER (15.Elizabeth O-REILLY 74-), 13.Trudy CAMILLERI
Substitutes not used: 1.Emma-Kate DEWHURST (gk)
Yellow cards: Renee Rollason 17-
Red Cards: Nil
