Melbourne Victory have closed the gap to just two points behind league leaders Melbourne City, following a 2-0 victory over Canberra United at the Home of the Matildas, thanks to goals from Holly Furphy and Emily Gielnik.
In scorching conditions in Melbourne, the home side finally broke the stalemate in the 70th minute, when substitute Holly Furphy found the net from an incredibly tight angle, marking her third goal in just six matches.
With the lead established, Victory pressed for a second goal, which arrived in the 83rd minute when Matildas striker Emily Gielnik powered a header past the near post after eluding her marker during a corner kick.
Victory’s goalkeeper, Courtney Newbon, made an excellent save to deny Hayley Taylor-Young in stoppage time, ensuring that the clean sheet was preserved.
This victory propels Victory to within two points of their rivals, Melbourne City, at the top of the league table.
Meanwhile, Canberra, under the guidance of coach Antoni Jagarinec, missed the opportunity to rise to fourth place and remain in seventh position.
The first half saw few clear chances, with both teams managing just one shot on target at the Home of the Matildas.
Seeking to invigorate her team in the second half, forward Rachel Lowe attempted a dazzling spin-and-volley from inside the box, but her shot sailed just over the crossbar.
Canberra forward Maja Markovski tried to add her name to the scoresheet against her former club, but her effort from the edge of the box was expertly saved by goalkeeper Newbon.
Victory nearly found the back of the net in the 68th minute, when skipper Kayla Morrison appeared to score, only to be denied by an offside call after she had inadvertently positioned herself beyond the last defender when following up on Lowe’s deflected shot.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 70th minute by a familiar face coming off the bench.
Furphy, who was subbed on in the 63rd minute for Nickoletta Flannery, tussled with Canberra’s Tegan Bertolissio before coolly slotting the ball past Sally James at her near post.
With the scoreline now in their favour, Victory soon secured another critical three points in their quest for the Premiership.
Gielnik, now the leader in the Golden Boot race, eluded her defender at an in-swinging corner, timing her jump to perfection to direct a fierce header beyond James and into the net.
Although rarely challenged at the other end, Newbon remained alert in stoppage time, pushing a shot from Taylor-Young past the post and ensuring her side kept their clean sheet intact.
The victory extends Victory’s unbeaten streak to eight matches and places them just two points shy of rivals Melbourne City at the summit of the table.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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