‘It’s half the job done’: Westfield Matildas duo set sights on the double with Melbourne City

The Premiership celebrations weren’t even in full swing before Melbourne City and Westfield Matildas pair Kyah Simon and Ellie Carpenter had already switched their focus towards securing the Westfield W-League double.

City got their hands on the 2019/20 Season’s first piece of silverware – the Premiers’ Plate – after Thursday night’s convincing 4-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.

The emphatic victory not only gave Rado Vidosic’s side an unassailable nine-point lead at the top of the ladder but maintained their sensational record this season.

City are unbeaten through 11 games, have won 10 matches in a row while the shut-out against the Wanderers means they have kept seven clean sheets in a row.

But Simon insists the side wants more, with their minds already switching to winning the Championship in a few weeks’ time.

“I’m really pleased and really proud of the team and the girls,” Simon told Matildas.com.au.

Matildas v Vietnam - Tokyo 2020


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“We definitely put everything in this season and it’s really nice to top it off with the Premiers’ Plate.

“[But it’s] half the job done. We’ll enjoy this moment and then get the job done hopefully in a few weeks’ time.”

Simon added: “We can always play better, we can always do more. There is no room for complacency, finals football is a whole other ball game to regular season.

“We’ve got one more game against Brisbane Roar which is going to be tough and then finals time.

“We recover well, look to Brisbane and then take some momentum going into the Finals Series.”

Only needing a point to wrap up the Premiership at Marconi Stadium, City were intent to secure it in style and produced another outstanding display.

Ellie Carpenter, Emily van Egmond, Kyah Simon, Steph Catley, Lydia Williams and Aivi Luik
Melbourne City's contingent of Westfield Matildas with the Premiers' Plate

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Scottish international Claire Emslie got the ball rolling with an early penalty, before Ellie Carpenter bagged a brace and new recruit Ally Watt put the icing on the cake with her first-ever professional goal.

City have now won two Westfield W-League Premierships to go with their three Championships from 2016-2018.

If they can go on and take out the title next month the club would etch their name on a record fourth Westfield W-League Championship, usurping Sydney FC’s three.

“It’s really nice. This team has been great this season, one of the best teams I’ve played in,” Carpenter said.

“We need to keep building on our performances. Now that we’re undefeated and the Premiers we’re going to have a massive target on our back.

“We have to go back to training like we haven’t won anything and keep going.”

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