Aivi Luik played a starring role as Westfield W-League leaders Melbourne City opened up a three-point gap at the top with a 2-0 win against Brisbane Roar.
The Westfield Matildas midfielder netted for the first time in almost two years in the 74th minute to clinch the victory against her former club while closest Premiership rivals Western Sydney Wanderers were on a bye week.
Serbian striker Milica Mijatovic opened the scoring after six minutes as City’s Westfield Matildas group of Lydia Williams, Steph Catley, Ellie Carpenter, Emma Checker and Emily van Egmond helped establish the lead.
Kyah Simon came on as a 62nd-minute substitute after Catley pulled a penalty kick wide, before Luik sealed the three points with her first Westfield W-League goal since February 2018.
The 34-year-old revealed post match that ‘about eight’ of City’s side battled through a sickness bug to secure their sixth straight win.
Mackenzie Arnold, Clare Polkinghorne, Katrina Gorry, Hayley Raso and Tameka Yallop started for Roar, while Elise Kellond-Knight continued her comeback with a half hour cameo from the bench.
REPORT: Mijatovic and Luik secure City's sixth straight win
REACTION: Fully sick! No excuses for Luik and City in battling win over Roar
Mary Fowler struck her third Westfield W-League goal of the season as Adelaide United recorded their first points of the 2019/20 campaign.
After Chelsie Dawber had put the Lady Reds ahead against Perth Glory on 38 minutes, 16-year-old Fowler pounced seven minutes later to make it 2-0 to the home side at the interval at Marden Sports Complex.
The 2018/19 Grand Finalists fired back after half-time through Crystal Thomas and snatched a last-gasp draw when Morgan Andrews’ 93rd-minute penalty beat an outstanding Sarah Willacy in the Adelaide goal.
REPORT: Glory snatch draw with Adelaide after Andrews' late penalty
REACTION: ‘We got what we deserved’: Despotovski hails Glory’s spirited fightback
Jenna McCormick impressed as Melbourne Victory climbed into Finals Series contention with a 2-1 win against Newcastle Jets.
Goals from English captain Natasha Dowie and American Darian Jenkins set the 2018/19 Premiers on their way at AAMI Park.
Gema Simon pulled one back for the visitors but the home side hung on to overtake Roar and Canberra United, whose match with third-placed Sydney FC was postponed due to poor air quality in the nation’s capital.
REPORT: Birthday girl Jenkins off the mark as Victory floor Jets
REACTION: Jenkins says title underdogs Victory will never give up the fight
