Western Sydney Wanderers have stormed into the top four on the back of their first home win for almost two years.
The 693-day drought was finally broken as Michelle Carney and Keelin Winters both scored in a 3-1 win over Melbourne Victory at Marconi Stadium on Sunday.
It was the Red & Black’s second win in a row and their first ever against Melbourne Victory with the Wanderers dominant from the start.
While other players got on the scoresheet, the win was on the back of an outstanding performance from 15-year-old Ellie Carpenter.
Carpenter has been one of Norm Boardman’s most consistent performers of the season so far and the centre back underlined why she was recently called into the senior Westfield Matildas side with an exceptional piece of play to break the early deadlock.
With Victory playing the ball out of their own half, Carpenter expertly nipped in behind Laura Spiranovic on half way and slalomed through the Melbourne midfield before crossing to an unmarked Carney who slid in her first goal of the season.
On the balance of play, it was a deserved lead for the Wanderers, who had been building up chances and consistently penetrated the Victory defence, with Winters orchestrating play from midfield.
Fellow youngster Jada Whyman was the next to be called into action when she plucked a long-range shot from Christine Nairn to draw a significant round of applause from the home faithful, and even the USA Superstar who took the shot.
The second half was more of the same for Wanderers when Liz Grey’s headed effort appeared to be going wide until a Victory defender deflected the ball into her own net.
It was 3-0 soon later after Carney was felled in the box, allowing Winters to score from the penalty spot.
A late goal from Victory’s Spiranovic did little to remove the gloss on one of the Wanderers best ever performances that sees them rise to third on the table.
Western Sydney Wanderers have a bye next week before travelling to Gosford on Sunday 29 November to take on Canberra United. Melbourne Victory also have the weekend off and will attempt to get their first points of the season when they visit Brisbane Roar on Saturday 28 November.
