Two goals in three minutes from Matildas forward Holly McNamara and a stunning strike by Leticia McKenna have won Melbourne City a record-equalling fifth A-League Women championship title, defeating Wellington Phoenix 3-1 in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
McNamara, fresh off her golden boot win for most goals scored in the regular season, sprung to life late in the first half. A sensational spin-and-strike from outside the box in the 41st minute opened the scoring before McNamara went scything through Wellington defenders to spear her second into the bottom corner two minutes later.
Her double was complemented by a gorgeous long-range strike by newly minted Matilda McKenna in the 49th minute, while Wellington’s Makala Woods clawed a goal back in the 52nd minute as the Phoenix struggled to fight back in the second half.
City were favourites coming into the match despite having not won a championship since their star-studded 2020 side, skating into the finals series after their third straight premiership where they finished six points clear of the Phoenix in second.
However, last season’s underdog fairytale which saw the Central Coast Mariners claim the ALW championship kept a flame of hope alive for Wellington, who finished the regular season with the most goals scored, fewest conceded, and highest number of clean sheets overall.
Led by Bev Priestman, voted the coach of the season by the league’s own players as she continues her post-dronegate renaissance, and supported by a large contingent of travelling fans, Wellington began the brighter of the two sides, winning second balls and finding sharp passes through City’s midfield.
But their momentum was almost immediately halted after City winger Bryleeh Henry sprung through the Phoenix centre-backs in the fourth minute, sprinting on to a cutting through-ball by Aideen Keane.
Henry, in trying to round goalkeeper Victoria Esson just inside the box, tripped and tumbled into the grass, with referee Isabella Mossin waving away a penalty. VAR, introduced to the ALW for the first time in this decider, confirmed the call, but it was a warning shot for a Phoenix side that seemed nervous and overwhelmed for the following 40 minutes.
It was all City from there, with Keane and Henry offering the most with their speed and direct runs on either wing, and McNamara floating in between Wellington’s centre-backs trying to pounce on cut-backs or deflections.
A low, hard cross from the impressive Karly Roestbakken was shinned just wide of the post by McNamara in the 21st minute, while McKenna fired one of the few free kicks off the crossbar just before the half hour.
McNamara glanced a header into the back of the net in the 35th minute, but the goal was correctly called offside in the buildup. Keane then had a chance when finding herself through on goal down the left in the 40th minute, only for her shot to bounce right off Esson’s foot.
The Phoenix were largely second-best throughout the first half, with a frustrated long-distance shot by Brooke Nunn emblematic of the team’s struggles to break through City’s tight defence.
Trailing at the break, Priestman made a half-time substitution, bringing on winger Mackenzie Anthony for the sluggish Lucia Leon, while Macey Fraser replaced teenager Pia Vlok shortly afterwards.
Despite the injection of new energy, it was City who struck first in the second half, with McKenna given acres of space near the top of Wellington’s penalty area before pinging a glorious curling strike in off the far post.
But the Phoenix found a spark through their surprising injury-replacement signing Woods, who poked home a consolation goal for the visitors in the 52nd minute after a scramble in the box.
That goal gave Wellington a new confidence, dominating most of the possession and chances for the following 20 minutes. Woods was once again the biggest threat, directing a spiralling header down towards the bottom corner in the 56th minute, forcing City goalkeeper Malena Mieres into a diving swat away.
A handful of half-chances were created by Wellington as the clock ticked down, with City bunkering in to defend their lead, aided by some strategic time-wasting substitutions. McNamara, voted player of the match, walked slowly off the pitch in stoppage time, given a hurry-up shove by Marisa van der Meer along the way.
The title brings City level with Sydney FC at five championships which, in addition to their five all-time premierships, makes the side the equal most successful women’s team in ALW history.
City won’t have much time to celebrate it though, jumping on a flight tomorrow morning headed for South Korea where they will face Japanese club Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the semi-final of the Asian Women’s Champions League on Wednesday.
If they go all the way in that competition, they could become the first A-League Women club to win a treble of trophies in the same season, in what would be a fitting reward for a side that has cemented themselves as the new dynasty in Australian women’s football.
