Melbourne Victory moved clear at the top of the W-League ladder with a gritty 2-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at Latrobe City Stadium yesterday.
Natasha Dowie and Christine Nairn put Victory two goals up by half-time, but an audacious long-range shot from Kylie Ledbrook dragged one back for the Wanderers in the 73rd minute and gave Victory fans an anxious final 20 minutes.
On point: Natasha Dowie (left) celebrates with Danielle Weatherholt after scoring for Melbourne Victory against Western Sydney at Latrobe City Stadium in Morwell, Victoria.Credit:AAP
Adelaide Uniteds slip-up on Saturday night opened the door for Victory to seal outright top spot and they responded, constantly attacking Jada Whymans goal.
Emily Gielnik had a long-range effort blocked, while a powerful effort from Mindy Barbieri flew over the Wanderers crossbar.
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But on 13 minutes, England international Downie got on the end of a Gielnik through ball and slid her past an onrushing Whyman to notch her fifth goal of the season.
On 40 minutes Dowie and Gielnik pressured Whyman in possession and she coughed it up just outside the box. A cross from Gielnik deflected off the crossbar, and Nairn reacted quickest to tap home her first goal of the campaign.
Heads up: Christine Nairn drives forward for Victory.Credit:AAP
The Wanders mounted a comeback, and broke through when Ledbrook had a crack from just inside her half to beat a shocked Casey Dumont.
Dowie looked to have restored Victorys two-goal buffer late in the game but was adjudged offside.
The win put Victory five-points clear of Perth Glory and Adelaide United.
In Sunday's other match, Rhoda Mulaudzi returned to her clinical best as she scored the opener in Canberra Uniteds 2-0 victory over Sydney FC.
Super strike: Canberra's Rhoda Mulaudzi scores for Canberra against Sydney.Credit:AAP
The South African scored her second goal of the season in perhaps her best performance yet and was a constant threat to Sydney FCs defence.
From what appeared to be an impossible angle, Mulaudzi whipped the ball over her shoulder and into the top left corner to score Canberra Uniteds opener.
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