Melbourne Victory produced a strong second half but saw its Westfield W-League finals chances ended after a 2-1 loss to Sydney FC.
Goals from Taylor Ray and Chloe Logarzo in the opening half-hour at AAMI Park on Friday gave Sydney control.
However, Victory dominated the second half, pulling a goal back through Lia Privitelli.
But the host – which had Gulcan Koca play a record-equalling 65th game for the club – was unable to find another, its slim finals chances ended with a round to play in the regular season.
Sydney opened the scoring early, a deflected strike from Ray from inside the area beating Bethany Mason-Jones.
Victory slowly built into the clash and almost levelled in the 27th minute.
Excellent work down the left from Natasha Dowie led to a chance for Privitelli, who fired over from inside the area.
The Sky Blues doubled their lead on the half-hour mark as Logarzo picked out the top corner from the edge of the area.
The lively Dowie continued to threaten, Aubrey Bledsoe making a superb diving save to deny the Victory captain.
Victory made a strong start to the second half before eventually being rewarded.
Privitelli rose unmarked in the area to head home an Angela Beard corner and drag Victory back into the game.
Great work, @liaprivitelli! #MVCvSYD #WLeague @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/gW62bfwCfY
— Victory W-League (@victorywleague) January 26, 2018
Victory continued to look the more likely in the second half, with Jeon Ga-eul particularly dangerous, but it was unable to find an equaliser.
Westfield W-League 2017/18 Round 13
Melbourne Victory 1 (Lia Privitelli 49′)
Sydney FC 2 (Taylor Ray 4′, Chloe Logarzo 30′)
