Melbourne Victory recorded a fourth straight win and moved into the Westfield W-League top four by beating Canberra United 3-0 on Sunday.
Summary
Melina Ayres’ first-half brace and a Natasha Dowie header helped Victory to a deserved win at Lakeside Stadium.
It lifted Victory into fourth on the table, two points adrift of second and third and three clear of fifth-placed Brisbane Roar.
Victory controlled the opening stages, which were relatively scrappy, before Rosie Sutton headed a Darian Jenkins cross wide midway through the first half.
But it would score twice before half-time through Ayres.
Jenkins picked out Ayres with a cross from the right and the 20-year-old made no mistake with her finish.
Just seven minutes later and Ayres doubled the lead, producing a composed finish from inside the area from Dowie’s pass.
Canberra was more dangerous to begin the second half, with Victory goalkeeper Casey Dumont making a low save from Elise Thorsnes’ powerful effort in the 51st minute.
Victory had a great chance to score a third after Annalie Longo played in Dowie, but the star forward side-footed wide in a one-on-one.
Dumont made a good save with her legs to deny Aoife Colvill before Dowie fired wide following an Angela Beard pass.
After Dumont dived to her left to push away a Camila effort, Victory deservedly found a third.
Amy Jackson’s cross from the left was met at the back post by Dowie, who headed in from close range for her sixth goal of the season.
Jenkins and Dowie squandered opportunities in additional time as Victory closed out yet another win.
Result
Westfield W-League 2019/20 Round 11
Melbourne Victory 3 (Melina Ayres 31’/38′, Natasha Dowie 77′)
Canberra United 0
Next up
Victory is next in action with a Derby clash against City at Lakeside Stadium on Thursday, February 13.
