Adelaide United Women has lost 1-0 to Melbourne City Women at John McEwan Reserve in Shepparton on Saturday night.
The Reds’ winless start to the Westfield W-League season continued as Kyah Simon’s eighth minute finish was the difference.
Amber Brooks did have the ball in the net early in the second-half but it was ruled out for offside.
Ivan Karlović named an unchanged line-up for the clash, looking to build some continuity in the squad. Mallory Weber was again deployed on the wing with Kahlia Hogg and Dylan Holmes forming a double pivot in the central midfield.
Adelaide struggled to get into the encounter early with the Reds almost falling behind when Simon’s near-post volley almost snuck in from Carpenter’s cross.
But that combination would foreshadow how the hosts broke the deadlock as it was a near carbon copy moments later.
Carpenter with room on the right saw her cut-back expertly turned in by the onrushing Simon to make it 1-0.
Adelaide rarely threatened in the first-half with Sarah Willacy the busier of the two goalkeepers, holding a number of long-range strikes.
Scottish forward Claire Emslie should have doubled City’s advantage just before the break had it not been for a strong first touch on the six-yard box.
Adelaide improved in the second-half without troubling Lydia Williams in goal.
United thought they had an equaliser through Brooks from Kahlia Hogg’s inviting set-piece but it was quickly cancelled out due to an apparent offside.
Willacy ensured the game remained in the balance when she executed a sensational save, launching herself in the air to deny Emslie.
Substitute, Georgia Campagnale, was unable to repeat her exploits from last season against City when she scored a 97th minute equaliser some 364 days earlier, after seeing a shot trickle wide of the post.
Adelaide could not find a breakthrough as they succumbed to a third straight defeat to begin the campaign.
Key moments:
8’ | GOAL: Simon slides in to meet Carpenter’s cut-back to open the scoring.
38’ | CHANCE: Emslie in acres of space on the six-yard box is picked out by Carpenter but a heavy touch prevents her from dispatching a near certain goal.
53’ | OFFSIDE! Brooks diverts Hogg’s free-kick into the back-of-the-net but the flag is raised by the assistant referee.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6110756563001
65’ | SAVE! Willacy pulls off a spectacular, acrobatic save tipping Emslie’s curling effort wide of the post.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6110756263001
Match details:
Saturday, 30 November 2019
Westfield W-League 2019/20 Season – Round 3
Melbourne City 1 (Simon 8’)
Adelaide United 0
Venue: John McEwan Reserve
