Victory beat Central Coast to extend unbeaten ALW run
Anna Harrington |
American McKenzie Weinert has scored a dramatic late winner to earn Melbourne Victory a 2-1 win over Central Coast and extend their unbeaten run to four A-League Women games.
Kurea Okino handed Victory the lead on the hour mark but the Mariners’ Faye Bryson responded 11 minutes later.
But Wienert’s wonderful 91st-minute winner, where she beat two Mariners defenders then chipped former Victory goalkeeper Casey Dumont, proved the difference at the ‘Home of the Matildas’ in Bundoora.
Victory sit fourth and are now unbeaten in four games, while the Mariners are sixth.
Central Coast impressed early with their intense pressing keeping Victory on their toes in a tight first half.
Japanese striker Okino, who had endured a difficult, goalless opening five weeks and looked scratchy in the first half, was a picture of relief when she finally broke through.
Alana Murphy whipped in a corner and defender Tori Hansen’s header bounced into the six-yard box, where Okino was on hand with an athletic poacher’s finish.
But just 11 minutes later, the Mariners responded when Wurigumula slipped through Bryson, who burst forward against a static defence and coolly finished past Lydia Williams.
Central Coast looked the fresher of the two teams and the more likely to snag a winner.
But Weinert took the game by the scruff of the neck when she beat Taren King, bundled over Bryson and calmly dinked Dumont for the winner.
The game kicked off a bumper day of ALW action, with Sydney FC facing Melbourne City, Newcastle taking on Canberra and Brisbane hosting Adelaide.
AAP
