City’s treble dream over after WACL semi-final
Anna Harrington |
Melbourne City’s hopes of a ground-breaking treble have gone up in smoke with a 3-1 semi-final loss to Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the Women’s Asian Champions League.
City sealed a domestic premiership-championship double with Saturday’s 2-1 A-League Women grand-final win over Wellington.
But Tokyo scored two goals in the opening 10 minutes to bring City back down to earth and leave Michael Matricciani’s charges with an uphill battle to qualify for the final.
City fought their way back into the contest and the excellent Aideen Keane scored in the 37th minute, before Yuzuho Shiokoshi’s second goal in the 78th minute snuffed out the comeback.
It could well be the final time some of City’s players, headlined by star striker Holly McNamara, play for the club in the forseeable future given expected interest from overseas clubs.
Tokyo snatched the lead in the fourth minute when City failed to clear a cross and Shino Matsuda teed up Shiokoshi to tap home.
For Tokyo’s second, just six minutes later, Shiokoshi hit the post and Miharu Shinjo reacted quickest to bury the rebound.
The second goal woke City up and they started to find their way back into the game.
With winger Keane dominant and McNamara looking dangerous, City started to create chances at will and hit back for a corner.
McNamara was taken out at the corner but the ball from Leticia McKenna spilled to skipper Rebekah Stott, whose shot was met by Keane to poke home.
Malena Mieres had to bat away an Aoki strike at the end of the first half.
City kept their foot down in the second half, chasing an equaliser.
VAR took a look at a potential Tokyo penalty on the hour mark after McNamara took out opponent Maramatsu while challenging for a defensive header.
City coach Michael Matricciani went all-out in attack in chase of an equaliser, but the likes of McNamara and Keane couldn’t find another opening.
Then City were caught open defensively and hit with a sucker punch, with Shiokoshi burying her second to effectively call the game.
City, who lost last year’s final, have already qualified for next year’s WACL as premiers.
In the final, Tokyo will play the winner of Wednesday night’s semi-final between North Korean outfit Naegohyang Women’s FC and Suwon FC Women.
AAP