Melbourne Victory struck first blood in the first of two W-League derbies with Melbourne City scheduled for this season, winning 2-0 in a historic standalone fixture at AAMI Park.
Goals either side of half-time – the first an own goal by City's Elise Kellond-Knight, the second a well-struck shot by Victory's Matilda Emily Gielnik – sealed the triumph.
Melbourne Victory celebrate their first-half goal in a historic W-League derby against Melbourne City. Credit:AAP
It was a cagey opening 15 minutes as both sides adjusted to the dynamics of playing in such a big stadium with such a sparse crowd.
Both sides pushed and probed, feinted and prodded as they sought openings in what was always likely to be a tense contest given the cross-city rivalry between the two clubs.
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Victory's Angela Beard heads under pressure from City's Rhali Dobson.Credit:AAP
City have had by far the best of things for the past three seasons, having won three titles on the bounce while Victory have failed to make the finals in that period.
City coach Rado Vidosic was forced to juggle his line-up due to absences. Kyah Simon and Steph Catley were absent, while Elise Kellond-Knight had to be deployed as a makeshift central defender despite having played both games for the Matildas in the past six days.
Tameka Butt also made her City debut after rushing back from international duty.
Victory had their own issues, however, as two players, Laura Alleway and Kyra Cooney-Crosse, were both delayed in their arrival by heavy traffic.
The former, who had played for the Matildas during the week, was listed on the subs' bench because she had not arrived by the time team sheets had to be submitted.
She made it just in time and started the game, but 16-year-old Cooney-Crosse was not so lucky and went from being in the starting 11 to not even being on the bench.
It was City who had the first shot after an uneventful opening 20 minutes when their American import Jasmyne Spencer wriggled into space only to fire wide.
At the other end, Emily Gielnik, who scored that memorable goal for the Matildas in the 5-0 drubbing of Chile, drove wide with Victory's first effort on goal.
Shortly after, Christine Nairn's shot struck a City defender, but referee Kate Jacewicz waved away appeals for a penalty.
Goalscorer Emily Gielnik (No.15) celebrates with Victory teammate Christine Nairn.Credit:AAP
Victory came closest to breaking the deadlock on the half-hour when English striker Natasha Dowie's long-range drive was tipped wide for a corner by City's Australian international goalkeeper Lydia Williams.
But the dark blues got the goal they wanted just a minute later in what were unfortunate circumstances for their hosts.
Nairn's cross from the Victory right was aimed at Dowie, but the big striker was unable to make contact with the ball; however, it struck Kellond-Knight and bounced in, giving Williams no chance.
Spencer linked up well with Butt, sliding a pass through for the Australian international, but Casey Dumont in the Victory goal was out smartly to smother the ball at her opponent's feet.
City went close shortly after the restart when Butt found Yukari Kinga, who fed a pass through to Spencer. Butt kept running, and the forward slipped the ball through to her new teammate, whose shot just flashed wide.
Just after the hour mark, Victory doubled their advantage, and it was Gielnek who proved the thorn in City's side after some excellent work by Dowie, who won the ball in midfield.
The Englishwoman slid a pass through to her teammate, who took the ball in her stride, advanced towards goal and then drove a perfectly directed shot wide of Williams – an effort reminiscent of her strike for the national team just a few days earlier.
Spencer then found herself in plenty of space but her shot flew into the side netting.
