Report: Victory claim bragging rights in Melbourne Derby
Melbourne Victory have upset bitter rivals Melbourne City 2-0 in the Melbourne Derby at AAMI Park on Friday night.
An own goal to Elise Kellond-Knight and a strike from Emily Gielnik either side of half-time ensured Victory would claim bragging rights as the Westfield W-League returned from the international break.
It was a disappointing result for City who dominated possession but failed to convert it into meaningful opportunities.
The first half saw a lot of broken play with the action largely contained between the boxes.
City should have taken the lead on 23 minutes as Yukari Kinga missed a header from directly in front after getting on the end of a dangerous cross from Tameka Butt.
Victory then ramped up their efforts, Natasha Dowie forcing a diving save from Lydia Williams and a minute later the ball was in the back of City’s net though not courtesy of a player in navy blue.
Kellond-Knight was the unfortunate contributor as she inadvertently buried a cross from Christine Nairn into the bottom right corner.
After the break the match continued in much the same fashion, City had a mortgage on the ball but it was Victory creating the clear-cut chances.
Gielnik was at the heart of the action as she peppered the City box, having a goal disallowed for a foul on Williams in the build-up as well as hitting the post all within seven minutes.
She finally had her goal, and Victory’s second, in the 65th minute after beating Williams at her far post with a well-placed finish on the end of a blistering run.
City tried in vain to find a way back into the match but the Victory defence held firm, while their counter-attacks forced Williams into a raft of saves late in the match to keep the score line respectable.
