Western United issued the perfect response in the Ninja A-League Women, dispatching of Central Coast Mariners 3-1 on Sunday evening.
It was the Kahli Johnson show as she scored twice in quick succession just before the hour mark thanks to a pair of wondrous assists from Kiara De Domizio and Aimee Medwin.
Grace Maher made absolutely certain of the result with a spectacular free-kick in the final minutes and despite a consolation goal from the Mariners, there was no halting the Green and Black’s celebrations in Gosford.
Kat Smith’s side shoots to fourth on the table on the back of that victory and will look ahead to a battle against second-placed Brisbane Roar to round out 2024 at Ironbark Fields next week.
Western United team news
Smith made one change to the starting line-up with Sara Eggesvik dropping out due to a minor quad injury. Emily Roach took her place in midfield.
Claudia Mihocic was named in the matchday squad for the first time this season while De Domizio returned to the bench for the first time since her winning goal against Sydney FC.
First Half
It was a relatively slow start to the game with both sides coming out tentatively in the opening stages, trading a couple of set pieces but no meaningful chances.
That changed in the 13th minute when Keiwa Hieda broke in behind the Mariners’ defence after an exquisite long switch of play from Alana Cerne.
After the Japanese’s initial effort was blocked by the goalkeeper, chaos ensued in the box as Chloe Logarzo, Aimee Medwin and Melissa Taranto all got in the mix but Central Coast were able to block each attempt and whisk the ball away to safety.
Cerne and Maher were using those long balls to great effect as United looked to get at Central Coast’s defence quickly and decisively.
That meant space was there to be exploited on the wings and Kahli Johnson found Medwin with a cut-back soon after, but the No.5 just couldn’t wrap her foot around the ball and sent her effort wide.
Central Coast posed a threat of their own and the likes of Peta Trimis and Shadeene Evans were sharp up front, though United’s defence was able to snuff out any chances on goal before they became an issue for Chloe Lincoln to deal with.
There was opportunity for goals in the game at both ends but neither side had the final bit of quality to make good on it, leaving the deadlock yet to be broken at the interval.
Second Half
Central Coast started brightly in the second half and had two chances to take the lead in quick succession.
Trimis had the first one as her header flashed towards the corner before being booted off the line by Cerne, and Rasmussen followed up from the ensuing corner by firing straight at Lincoln from close range.
The Mariners didn’t capitalise on their chances, and that allowed Western United to go up the other end and take advantage.
Half-time substitute De Domizio made an instant impact, shaking off her defender and sending a glorious cross to the back post for Johnson to head home unchallenged.
United’s No.10 was up for it all afternoon and wasted no time in doubling her money, latching onto ball from Medwin a couple of minutes later before rounding the goalkeeper and rolling the ball into an empty net.
The goals coming in such quick succession took the sting out of Central Coast’s tails and had United in control for the remaining half hour.
Central Coast fought for a goal back on home soil and just as it seemed like a lull in the game would see no further action, an explosive minute saw goals at either end.
The first one was spectacular from Maher as she bent a wide free-kick all the way into the top corner, continuing her trend of only scoring the spectacular.
The Mariners went up the other end and spoiled any extra celebrations straight away, though, as Annalise Rasmussen converted from close range after Lincoln’s initial save.
United then very nearly went and scored another one straight away but the scoring did end there, seeing the Green and Black return to the winner’s circle.
