Adelaide United Women’s three-match winning streak has abruptly ended courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to Melbourne Victory Women at Marden Sports Complex on Friday night.
The Reds were hoping to consolidate its top four status and finals aspirations with an historic fourth straight triumph, but a 78th minute goal from Catherine Zimmerman gave the visitors all three points.
Despite Adelaide being far from its best they did squander a glut of chances to score in the Round 6 clash.
Adrian Stenta named an unchanged line-up for the clash, reflective of the team’s recent strong form.
However, it took some time for the Reds to find its rhythm with Victory conjuring the better chances in the opening 15 minutes.
Natalie Martineau’s cross sent Sian Fryer-McLaren scrambling before she was able to recover and tip the ball over the crossbar.
The visitors were convinced they had breached Adelaide’s goal from the ensuing Kyra Cooney-Cross corner as Fryer-McLaren repelled the ball on the goal-line.
Stenta’s charges eventually settled and created several opportunities to break the deadlock midway during the first stanza.
In the 28th minute, Chelsie Dawber was unable to keep her effort down after Fiona Worts’ inviting cross was only half parried by goalkeeper Gabriela Garton and fell to the Reds striker.
Moments later María José Rojas had the best chance of the first-half.
The 33-year-old Chile international latched onto a long ball from Fryer-McLaren and as she dribbled forward her one-on-one finish failed to trouble Garton.
On the stroke of half-time, Worts also had a glorious chance but lacked composure, blazing her left-footed strike above the crossbar.
The Reds struggled to play with any real fluidity following the re-start, absorbing a lot of pressure while uncharacteristically misplacing a number of passes.
Adelaide’s lacklustre showing was then compounded by Victory taking the lead 12 minutes from time.
Melina Ayres kept alive a set-piece and her header across the face of goal was nodded home by Zimmerman with the help of the underside of the crossbar.
The hosts toiled until the end in search of an equaliser, but they could not muster a goal as Stenta’s side was held scoreless for the first time this season.
Team news
Adrian Stenta named an unchanged line-up for the clash, reflective of the team’s recent strong form.
Key moments
28’ | CHANCE! Dawber cannot keep her shot down after the loose ball falls to striker.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6227282454001
33’ | CHANCE! Rojas runs clean through on goal but her audacious chipped attempt is comfortably saved by Garton.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6227288862001
45’ | CHANCE! Rojas slips through Worts and her strike on the angle sails over the top.
78’ | GOAL: Zimmerman rises highest to head in Ayres’ header across the face of goal.
90’ | CHANCE! Emily Hodgson swings a dangerous ball into the area which the ‘keeper cannot hold and the ball spills to Dylan Holmes but her shot is blocked.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6227305326001
Match details:
Game date: Friday, 29 January
Westfield W-League 2020/21 – Round 06
Adelaide United Women 0
Melbourne Victory Women 1 (Zimmerman 78’)
Venue: Marden Sports Complex
Crowd: 1,105
