Western United scored a statement 3-1 win over league leaders Melbourne City in the Liberty A-League Women, shooting provisionally to second on the table.
Hannah Keane opened the scoring just before the half hour mark but Hannah Wilkinson equalised soon after to leave the sides level at the break.
After Wilkinson had a goal disallowed for offside early in the second half, Keane got herself a brace and a fourth goal against Melbourne City in as many meetings.
The highlight of the night was still to come as Kahli Johnson, coming off the bench for her first appearance since November, scored a cracking third for the Green and Black to all but confirm the three points late in the game.
Western United Team News
Kat Smith made three changes to the starting line-up and reverted back to the three-at-the-back system that saw the team overpower Adelaide United in the second half last week.
Natasha Dakic came in to form the middle of that defensive trio, Julia Sardo started on the right-flank and Keane returned up front for her first start of 2024.
There was a big return on the bench as Johnson was named among the substitutes in anticipation of her first minutes with Smith as manager.
First Half
The heavens opened up right in time for kick-off with the players walking onto a very wet and slick AAMI Park surface to begin the match.
That saw both sides really feeling out the conditions as the early proceedings progressed, but United seemed to settle into the game the quickest.
Chloe Logarzo tried her luck from a long-range free-kick 10 minutes into the game and the effort tested Lysianne Proulx, the Canadian keeper needing to help it over the crossbar to keep the net from bulging.
Keiwa Hieda and Sardo were able to stretch the pitch in the wide areas and open up spaces in side for the midfielders to find the ball with the Green and Black looking threatening in possession.
A lovely move in the 25th minute ended in Keane hitting the post but the American didn’t have to wait too much longer to find her third goal of the season.
It came after some more attractive interplay as the ball went from Jaclyn Sawicki to Hieda to Logarzo, whose powerful shot could only be palmed up into the air by Proulx and Keane was on hand to nod it into an empty net to give United the lead.
City responded quickly and immediately got back on the front foot as Daniela Galic forced a good save from Hillary Beall before the crossbar came to United’s aid seconds later after Grace Maher deflected a shot onto the woodwork and away for a corner.
That set piece ended up providing City’s equaliser, though, with Hannah Wilkinson heading home from close range after Kaitlyn Torpey arrive at the back post to square the ball across.
It was an open, attacking game and United sought to find a quick response of its own, but City would end up having the biggest chance of the remainder of the first half as the ball fell to Wilkinson in the box again, but this time Beall was able to make a remarkable save seconds before the half-time whistle sounded.
Second Half
The second half started sharply as both sides sought to take the game over and play their way into the lead after the restart.
City thought they had done just that when Wilkinson slid in to bury a finish in off the post, but the offside flag went up to deny the New Zealand international her second.
Fittingly, it was only a couple of minutes before United’s own Hannah found her brace as United broke through City’s midfield.
Sardo played an outstanding, whipped cross around City’s backline which Logarzo ran onto and whether she was trying to round the goalkeeper or play in her teammate, her touch fell perfectly for Keane to roll the ball into an open goal.
It was an open and entertaining affair but United remained largely in control, getting on the front foot and efficiently avoiding any clear-cut chances at the other end.
Melissa Taranto lifted a delicate ball over City’s defence which Hieda controlled expertly but Proulx made a brilliant save, then City went the other end soon after and as Pollicina seemed poised to score, Sardo flew in to make a crucial block.
Both goalkeepers were in fine form as Proulx denied Sawicki’s long-range effort and Beall tipped Pollicina’s free-kick over the bar heading into the final 10 minutes.
In the end, United’s edge in the game was rewarded with a stunning third goal as Johnson punctuated her return with a thumping finish.
After Logarzo was denied magnificently by Proux as she tried to dribble around the goalkeeper, Keane picked the ball back up and spotted Johnson arriving at the back post.
The ball was perfect, Johnson’s chested first touch was perfect and the finish was most certainly perfect, slammed into the roof of the net at the near post.
There was still time for Western United to come close one more time as Johnson teed up Avaani Prakash in the box, with the 17-year-old striking the crossbar moments before the final whistle sounded on an assertive victory for Western United.
