W-League: Red-hot Victory shoots down Jets

Melbourne Victory has cemented its place in the W-League finals series with a resounding 4-0 win over Newcastle Jets at Kingston Heath Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

It was a ‘win and in’ situation for Victory who played their last regular season match before heading off to Japan to compete in the Women’s Club World Cup next week.

After going through a run of four games without a win, it looked as though the defending champions would not qualify for the finals and defend their title.

A Racheal Quigley proved too hot to handle in the scorching heat for the Jets, netting a well-deserved hat-trick.

It was a match Victory dominated from start to finish, never really being pressured by the traveling Jets.

An early scare ripped through the side early when start player Lisa De Vanna went down grabbing her ankle. The match came to stop as she received treatment but was able to retake her place on the field

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The breakthrough came for Victory in the 23rd minute when Quigley was on hand to tap home after a deflected De Vanna shot fell invitingly to her.

Gema Simon was forced off the field in the 25th minute which brought Beatie Goad into the action.

The youngster wasted no time making a statement in the game as she scored in just her sixth minite of the field.

A piercing run down the wing by De Vanna allowed Goad to get on the ball and put away Victory’s second.

Victory dominated the remainder of the half with the Jets unable to make any meaningful attacks on goal.

Victory’s third came just moments into the second half when Quigly made it two for the day for her with De Vanna once again providing the assist.

Just like the hosts, the Jets themselves were desperate for a win to keep its finals chance alive but didn’t display the desperation like the Victory did.

With the result all but wrapped up, Victory took the foot off the gas with an eye on Japan.

It mattered little anyway with Jets unable to get near the Victory goal.

Quigley grabbed her hat-trick with 20 minutes to play, taking advantage of a tired Jets defence who appeared to be felling the full effects of a hot Melbourne afternoon.

Victory manager Joe Montemurro has pleased his side will be in the final series.

"I think we can go all way," Montemurro said.

"As I said I'm proud of the way the players have comported themselves and the way they have gone about things. It's been fantastic.

"We set ourselves the target to get into the finals and as I've said all along, it's one game at a time, one situation and one team at a time and I think we just gained some nice momentum so it's good."

Victory will depart for Japan on Thursday as the Australian participant in the International Womens Club Championship on Thursday and will take on local outfit Okayama Yunogo Belle on November 30.



Melbourne Victory: 1. Brianna DAVEY (GK), 2. Hannah BREWER, 5. Lauren BARNES, 6. Gema SIMON (16. Beattie GOAD 25'), 7. Stephanie CATLEY (C), 9. Racheal QUIGLEY (29. Caitlin FRIEND 72'), 10. Christine NAIRN, 11. Lisa DE VANNA (17. Gulcan KOCA 63'), 12. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 15. Emma CHECKER, 18. Elli REED

Unused substitutes: 20. Cassandra DIMOVSKI (GK)


Newcastle Jets: 1. Hannah SOUTHWELL (GK), 2. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 3. Hayley CRAWFORD (24. Brooke MILLER 67'), 5. Katherine REYNOLDS, 6. Angela SALEM, 7. Victoria HUSTER, 8. Amber NEILSON (17. Grace MACINTYRE 84'), 9. Tara ANDREWS, 10. Emily VAN EGMOND (C), 11. Rhali DOBSON (18. Claire WHEELER 86'), 16. Cassidy DAVIS

Unused substitutes: 20. Claire COELHO (GK)