AFC Women's Champions League
Kelli McGroarty, Melina Ayres and Cortnee Vine all starred with braces as Michael Matricciani’s side netted all their goals after the break to keep their hopes of a quarter-final slot alive, while Kaya are out of the running after falling to a second defeat.
Aideen Keane’s deft footwork on the right ended with the striker bending her attempt just wide of the left post as Melbourne stamped their authority from the start.
Their attacking line-up, however, failed to initially create any clear openings, with the closest to an opening goal coming from Ayres in the 11th minute, who ballooned her shot from inside the box with just keeper Yasmin Elauria in her way.
Their attacking line-up, however, failed to initially create any clear openings, with the closest to an opening goal coming from Ayres in the 11th minute, who ballooned her shot from inside the box with just keeper Yasmin Elauria in her way.
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The Kaya keeper made a fine save from Ayres’ volley in the 24th minute while Melbourne’s Malena Mieres was also forced into action minutes later to deny Dionesa Tolentin, who drilled her shot between midfielder Momo Hayashi’s legs in her attempt to reach the target.
Elauria, who had produced a sparkling performance in Kaya’s opener, blocked a close-range effort from Keane in the 38th minute as the Australian outfit closed the half unable to get the better of the defence and an in-form custodian.
Elauria, who had produced a sparkling performance in Kaya’s opener, blocked a close-range effort from Keane in the 38th minute as the Australian outfit closed the half unable to get the better of the defence and an in-form custodian.
Group C: Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) v Melbourne City FC (AUS)
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Melbourne, however, made a stunning start to the second half when McGroarty launched herself to head home Taylor Ray’s cut-back from the right, with the 47th minute goal confirmed by a VAR review.
The Kaya keeper managed to save a similar McGroarty attempt seven minutes later as a recharged Melbourne intensified their attacks, with Ayres’ curling shot collected by Elauria and the striker’s second attempt landing in the stands.
The Kaya keeper managed to save a similar McGroarty attempt seven minutes later as a recharged Melbourne intensified their attacks, with Ayres’ curling shot collected by Elauria and the striker’s second attempt landing in the stands.
Hayashi doubled their lead in the 64th minute when she rose highest in a crowded goalmouth to meet Avaani Prakash’s corner, her glancing header finding the bottom left corner past a wrong-footed Elauria.
McGroarty netted her second just two minutes later when she snuck into the area from behind and slid the ball in after connecting to Aimee Medwin’s cross from the right.
McGroarty netted her second just two minutes later when she snuck into the area from behind and slid the ball in after connecting to Aimee Medwin’s cross from the right.
Kaya’s defence was left reeling again in the 71st minute as Ayres picked up a rebound from her shot off the bar and slipped the ball in, while Vine, who had come on a minute later, added a fifth with her first touch when she squeezed between two defenders and placed her shot beyond the hapless keeper’s reach.
Ayres found her second in the 84th minute when, with Elauria off-position, she struck her foot out to direct Vine’s pass through the legs of midfielder Kaya Hawkinson into an empty net while Vine rounded proceedings two minutes into stoppage time with a simple tap-in.
Ayres found her second in the 84th minute when, with Elauria off-position, she struck her foot out to direct Vine’s pass through the legs of midfielder Kaya Hawkinson into an empty net while Vine rounded proceedings two minutes into stoppage time with a simple tap-in.
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