Fully sick! No excuses for Luik and City in battling win over Roar

Goal-scorer Aivi Luik revealed the majority of the Melbourne City side were battling illness as they ground out a vital 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar on Thursday night.

Goals in either half from Milica Mijatovic and Luik sealed a fifth straight win for City as they went to the top of the Westfield W-League ladder.

In an absorbing contest, City made the most of their opportunities and defender superbly to clinch all three points against fourth-place Roar.

Speaking to Fox Sports post-match, Luik admitted a number of players had to shrug off illness just to take the pitch at Dolphin Stadium.

“We don’t want to make any excuses…but there were about eight of us that were sick,” the Westfield Matildas playmaker said.

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“Four were pretty bad and some half-half.

“[Coach Rado Vidosic] just told us before the game ‘no excuses’. A championship-winning team goes out and gets the job done no matter whether there’s heat, whether there’s illness…we’re pretty happy with that.”

City had to show all their experience and title-winning credentials to see-off a Roar side that was fighting to consolidate their top four position.

Mijatovic scored inside six minutes as she buried a loose ball after Mackenzie Arnold could only parry Steph Catley's cross into her path.

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Despite Catley then missing a second-half penalty, City withstood a Roar avalanche before Luik iced the result 15 minutes from time.

“It’s always nice to score but more so to win. Even though it wasn’t our best game I think we played well together and we got the win together so that’s good,” Luik said.

“We tried to focus on our composure at the back and pass out of our pressure. I think we did that at times but maybe didn’t pick the right time all the time to do that.

“We weren’t as good with our organisation, especially in the midfield. We lost track of them a little bit and I think that hurt us. But we’re happy to get the win away from home.”

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Round 9

Melbourne City v Canberra United
Thursday, 9 January 2020
ABD Stadium
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEDT
Match centre