Westfield Matildas midfielder Emily van Egmond lit up the highlights reel with a stunning strike as Melbourne City moved six points clear atop the Westfield W-League ladder.
The dynamic van Egmond delivered from distance with a pin-point, second-half strike against Newcastle Jets to seal her side’s eighth straight win on Saturday.
Serbian striker Milica Mijatovic opened the scoring in the seventh minute as City’s Westfield Matildas contingent of Lydia Williams, Steph Catley, Ellie Carpenter, Aivi Luik and Kyah Simon joined van Egmond in the starting line-up for the clash at AAMI Park.
Despite dominating the first-half, City had to wait until the 50th minute to extend their advantage when van Egmond’s drive pierced a populated penalty area to nestle into the bottom corner – her second goal in as many weeks for the league-leaders.
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Westfield Matildas battle to deadlock draw in Sydney
City’s advantage atop the standings comes after second-placed Sydney FC were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw with fourth-placed Brisbane Roar on Thursday night at a rainy Leichhardt Oval.
A host of Westfield Matildas shone in the defensive third of the field for both sides with Roar’s Claire Polkinghorne, Katrina Gorry and Mackenzie Arnold – who revelled in a second straight clean sheet for their side – delivering good displays, while Sydney’s Alanna Kennedy, Chloe Logarzo and Caitlin Foord made it five straight shut-outs for the Sky Blues.
Tameka Yallop’s introduction for the Roar as a 54th minute substitute nearly proved the catalyst for the visitors, but the club's all-time top goalscorer saw a pair of fierce strikes denied by Sydney’s American goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe in the closing stages.
Victory draw level with Roar in Finals race
Melbourne Victory’s Jenna McCormick was also celebrating a clean sheet as the central defender and her teammates successfully stifled Adelaide United in a 3-0 win on Saturday afternoon.
English striker Natasha Dowie delivered a brace for Victory to add to Rosie Sutton’s second-half strike – assisted by McCormick – as the Victory recorded their first win in seven years in Adelaide.
The result sees the fifth-placed Victory move level on points and goal-difference with the fourth-placed Roar, with the Victory still boasting a game in hand.
Wanderers back to winning ways
Elsewhere, Amy Harrison's third-placed Western Sydney Wanderers survived a second-half scare against Perth Glory to notch a 3-1 win.
The Wanderers took a single goal lead into half-time through Caitlin Cooper's third minute opener, but let Glory back in the contest as Caitlin Doeglas netted early in the second half.
However, the Wanderers soon righted the ship through Cortnee Vine's 56th-minute strike before wrapping it up via an Isabella Wallhead own goal in the closing stages.
Meanwhile, Karly Roestbakken’s Canberra United sat out the round with a bye but remain in the Finals Series hunt in sixth position on the table.
Upcoming Matches – Westfield Matildas
Westfield Matildas v Chinese Taipei
Date: Monday, 3 February 2020
Venue: Five Rings Sports Centre, Wuhan, China
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local); 7.00pm (AEDT)
Thailand v Westfield Matildas
Date: Thursday, 6 February 2020
Venue: Five Rings Sports Centre, Wuhan, China
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local); 7.00pm (AEDT)
Westfield Matildas v China PR
Date: Sunday, 9 February 2020
Venue: Five Rings Sports Centre, Wuhan, China
Kick-off: 7.30pm (local); 10.30pm (AEDT)
Ticketing & broadcast information to be advised.
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