Victory beat Western Utd thanks to Gielnik hat-trick
Emily Gielnik has once again propelled Melbourne Victory to an A-League Women win, scoring a first-half hat-trick in their 4-1 triumph over Western United.
Gielnik wasted no time settling into their meeting at the Home of the Matildas, stunning United by scoring in the opening 12 seconds to help her side climb to second on the table and end the visitors’ undefeated run.
Earlier on Sunday, Newcastle earned their first three points of their home-and-away campaign with a 1-0 win against Wellington Phoenix.
Recently recalled to the Matildas, Gielnik again struck fear into her opposition when she plucked the ball off goalkeeper Alyssa Dall’Oste to add to her goal haul in the ninth minute.
Catherine Zimmerman hit back for Western United with a headed goal in the 20th minute following a corner, but Gielnik was unrelenting.
The sharpshooter completed her hat-trick in the 42nd minute courtesy of an Alex Chidiac assist, before teenager Ella O’Grady added another goal after 80 minutes.
An injury to Sandra Ibarguen only added to the visitors’ woes, with the Colombian forward helped off the field following an innocuous accident with Victory’s Rachel Lowe in the 83rd minute.
Forced to move to Maitland Sports Ground, Newcastle captain Cass Davis secured victory when her shot from the left boundary line found the back of the net in the 70th minute.
It is the second time in three rounds the Jets have had to move grounds due to poor field conditions at their home No.2 Sportsground.
Their hard-earned win lifts them to eighth (one win, one draw, one loss) on the ladder, while Phoenix remain last after their third loss.
The first half was a stalemate as both sides struggled to pull off the finishing touch after creating chances.
Cross-coder Sheridan Gallagher led the way in attack and had the best chance to break the deadlock for the Jets after earning a free kick deep into added time before half-time, but the NRLW player’s attempt was too high.
Wellington threatened to steal the three points from the visitors when captain Annalie Longo delivered a cross in the 67th minute just in front of goal, but Olivia Fergusson did not get to the ball in time.
The ‘Nix could be without Longo, who left the game following a collision with Lara Gooch in the last minute of regulation time.
Gooch appeared to have made contact with Longo’s face, but the extent of the injury is not yet known.
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