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Melbourne Victory head into the 2012/2013 Westfield W-League finals full of confidence after crushing Adelaide 4-1 at Wembley Park in Box Hill.
Victory went into the game as hot favourites against second last placed Adelaide Unted and did not disappoint the crowd in their last home game of the 2012/2013 season. Goals from Danielle Jackson, Petra Larsson, Jessica McDonald and Laura Spiranovic ensured Victory would be competing in finals, boosting their chances of a top two finish and a home semi-final.
Victory were in an attacking mindset from kick off with Laura Spiranovic and Steph Catley causing problems for the Adelaide defence in the box within seconds. It took only two minutes for the hosts to take the lead after a headed goal from defender and acting captain Danielle Johnson, scoring her first for the club.
Three minutes later it was another of Victorys international stars in Petra Larsson who had the crowd on their feet after an amazing long range strike sailing into the top left corner of the net.
Catley once again showed why she was named Female Footballer of the Year after a magnificent run down the left hand side at the ninth minute, beating all defenders and passing the ball into the path of Jessica McDonald who should have put the hosts 3-0 up. The US international not able to untangle the ball from her feet, finally resulting in a goal kick. However seconds later she was able to make amends and score her seventh goal for the club, placing her equal second on the Victory goal-scoring list.
It took over half an hour for Adelaide to have their first chance of the game with Jessica Waterhouse crossing the ball into Sarah McLaughlin who was close to putting a boot to the ball. Brianna Davey made her first save of the game during injury time of the first half after an attempted header from a corner landed straight into the chest of the keeper. Adelaide went into the half time break with few positives however much to do to beat the fired up Victory women.
Rebekah Stott was unlucky not to have a goal for her name after her long range shot hit the crossbar 5 minutes into the second half. McDonald also had two opportunities from close range just after half time, one which sailed just wide and the other which was successfully blocked by the goal keeper. It was Laura Spiranovic who was the next on the goal sheet for the hosts after 57 minutes with a deflected shot ending up in the back of the net.
Victory took the game into their own hands after the fourth goal until Adelaide were cruelly denied a goal at the 82nd minute mark. Substitute Marijana Rajcic had a one-on-one opportunity with Davey after a through ball by Kristy Moore, with her shot hitting the upright and sailing agonisingly along the goal line. Sarah McLaughlin scored a consolation goal for the hosts with three minutes remaining, however it was all too late for the Lady Reds who remain second last on the table.
STARTING XI:
Melbourne: Davey (GK), Johnson ( c), Ruyter-Hooley, Stott, Spiranovic, Spiranovic, Larsson, catley, McDonald, Barilla, Jackson, Koca.
Adelaide: Harvey (GK), Wallace, Natoli, Wharepouri, Erceg ( c), McLaughlin, Whorlow, Mayo, Checker, Waterhouse, Moore.
Subs Melbourne: Eliadis, Friend, Dimovski, Humble.
Subs Adelaide: Quigley, Rajcic, Macri, Barltrop.