Adelaide United Women’s frustrating Westfield W-League 2019/20 season continued after a 3-0 loss to rivals Melbourne Victory at Marden Sports Complex.
Natasha Dowie’s scored a brace and a simple tap-in from Rosie Sutton secured the three points for Victory as the Reds remain winless.
Ivan Karlović made three changes to his starting XI that drew with Perth Glory Women a fortnight ago. Two of those alterations were enforced with Kahlia Hogg (foot) and Mary Fowler (ankle) were both unavailable so Lais Araujo and Emily Condon returned and deployed in midfield with Chelsie Dawber entrusted to lead the line. Meanwhile, Charlotte Grant made way for Isabel Hodgson.
Adelaide’s were slow to begin proceedings and struggled to maintain possession of the ball long enough to alleviate some of Victory’s relentless pressure.
Victory dictated the play but failed to test Sarah Willacy from a couple of speculative long-range attempts.
However, it did not take long before the visitors broke the deadlock, incidentally with their first shot on target.
In the 17th minute, Dowie clinically converted Amy Jackson’s low cut-back from six-yards out, leaving Willacy with no chance.
Jenna McCormick saw a header land just over the crossbar from a corner later in the half as the Reds lacked fluidity in the final third, with a number of misplaced passes and being forced to start attacks again.
Adelaide enjoyed more possession after the re-start but again failed to create clear-cut chances.
Willacy made a fantastic stop to thwart Sutton’s one-on-one finish and later had Julia Ashley to thank for a vital clearance off the line to repel Annalie Longo’s attempt.
But Victory bagged two goals in two minutes to decide the contest.
McCormick’s shot fell kindly to Sutton for the easiest of finishes on 78 minutes, and moments later Dowie completed her double with a volley after Darian Jenkins provided the assist with a header back across the face of goal.
Key moments:
17’ | GOAL: Dowie meets Jackson’s low cut-back from the byline and her first-time finish beats Willacy at the near post.
50’ | SAVE! Willacy dives low to her right to tip wide Sutton’s one-on-one finish after a swift counter-attack.
73’ | CHANCE: The ball falls to Longo inside the box and beats the keeper but her effort is brilliantly cleared off the line by Ashley.
78’ | GOAL: Sutton is there to tap in McCormick’s low shot from the back post.
80’ | GOAL: Dowie expertly volleys home Jenkins’ header.
Match details:
Saturday, 18 January 2020
Westfield W-League 2019/20 Season – Round 10
Adelaide United Women 0
Melbourne Victory Women 3 (Dowie 17’ 80’ Sutton 78’)
Venue: Marden Sports Complex
Attendance: 692
