A dominant second-half performance guided Melbourne City past Adelaide United 1-0 in their hard-fought Liberty A-League clash at Coopers Stadium.
Player of the match Rhianna Pollicina scored the only goal of the game in the 66th minute, with City consolidating second place in the A-League Women ladder thanks to their fourth consecutive victory as the Reds dropped to fourth.
Adelaide shaded possession and territory early and carved out a chance just after the quarter hour on Saturday.
Emily Condon rose highest and headed just wide from a driven Fiona Worts corner.
City worked their way into the contest and attacked the Reds in wide areas, producing two good opportunities just before half-time.
Pollicina’s free kick whizzed through the box and evaded everyone, needing just a touch to direct it on goal, while Tyla Jay Vlajnic had a shot saved by Red keeper Annalee Grove a minute later.
The best chance of the half went to United in stoppage time after Paige Hayward raced onto a throughball and whipped in a cross from the left.
Worts beat her opponent to the ball and her left-footed volley appeared to be heading into the bottom corner before veteran shot stopper Melissa Barbieri stunningly tipped the shot around the post.
City were the better side right from the restart and dominated the Reds, before their reward arrived.
Rebekah Stott chipped the ball through Adelaide’s defence for Pollicina to run onto and dance around two defenders before firing low past the on-rushing Grove.
Adelaide had a chance to equalise in the 76th minute when Condon picked up the loose ball, after City failed to clear, and was bearing down on goal with just Barbieri to beat, but blasted her shot straight into the arms of the City custodian.
