Melbourne Victory Women 1 (Jodie TAYLOR 21’) Canberra United Women 0
By Roy Hay
The meeting of Melbourne Victory and Canberra United in the W-League at Skilled Stadium in Geelong resulted in a one-nil win to Victory in a high quality match in difficult conditions.
The Matildas’ keepers, Melissa Barbieri and Lydia Williams were in direct opposition.
The first fifteen minutes were very scrappy as the teams tried to come to terms with a strong blustery wind as a cool change swept through Geelong.
Neither keeper was troubled in that period, apart from one good block with her feet by Lydia Williams on Jodie Taylor.
Amy Jackson (12) of Victory charges away from team-mates Jodie Taylor (10) and Ursula Hughson (18).
Canberra had a near thing after 17 minutes when Emily van Egmond’s corner-kick kissed the top of the crossbar.
Victory broke through in 20 minutes as Ashley Brown came down the right wing and found Louisa Bisby and Jodie Taylor nipped in to lob the ball over Lydia Williams.
Though the keeper got a hand to the ball she could not keep it out of the net, even with the help of a defender.
From then till the interval Victory dominated the match even against the wind and Taylor had a chance to add to the lead but hit a cut-back by Ashley Brown wide of the Canberra goal.
The second half was more even though Victory had more of the play and there was no addition to the score.
Maika Ruyter-Hooley came up for a couple of corner kicks but could not get her headers on target, and Louisa Bisby stung Lydia Williams fingers with a shot from distance.
Both sides contributed to the quality of the game with slick passing moves, though some broke down in the face of stout defence by the backlines on both sides.
In the last few minutes Canberra threw everything at the Victory defence and substitute Tseng Shu-O hit the side netting from close range as Melissa Barbieri defended her near post with her body.
The Canberra players might feel that they deserved something from this game, but Victory did have the majority of the possession and the attempts on goal.
The win lifts Victory into the top four at least temporarily, though Perth Glory can regain that spot by winning against Sydney on Sunday 9 January.
Match details
Melbourne Victory (Jodie Taylor 21’) Canberra United 0
Saturday, 8 January 2010
Skilled Stadium, Geelong
Local kick-off: 3.00 pm
Referee: Stacey SASOPOLOUS
Assistant referees: Liz HYLAND and Danielle ANDERSON
Fourth official: George LACKRINDIS
Attendance: 300 estimated.
Melbourne Victory: 1. Melissa BARBIERI, 3. Marlies OOSTDAM, 5. Louisa BISBY, (7. Snez VELJANOVSKA 84’), 6. Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY, 8. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 9. Stephanie CATLEY, 10. Jodie TAYLOR (17. Caitlin FRIEND 75’), 11. Kendall FLETCHER, 12. Amy JACKSON, 13. Ashley BROWN (19. Enza BARILLA 72’), 18. Ursula HUGHSON,
Unused substitutes: 20. Brianna DAVEY
Yellow cards: Louisa BISBY 27’, Ella MASTRANTONIO 58’.
Red cards: Nil
Canberra United: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS, 2. Caitlin COOPER, 4. Michelle HEYMAN, 5. Kahlia HOGG, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ (8. TSENG Shu-O) 65’, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 10. Emily VAN EGMOND, 11. Cian MACIEJEWSKI, 13. Nicole SYKES, 15. Sally SHIPARD, 17. Leah BLAYNEY,
Unused substitutes: 9. Grace GILL, 19. Jennifer BISSET, 20. Jocelyn MARA
Yellow cards: Eimly van EGMOND 32’, Caitlin MUNOZ 61’
Red cards: Nil