AFC Women's Champions League
Goals by Melina Ayres’s and Aideen Keane moved the 2024/25 runners-up and last season’s semi-finalists to six points, level with China PR’s Beijing - who also look set for a place in the knockout stage despite suffering defeat as two of the best third-placed sides will also advance.
Keane and Rebekah Stott both missed chances within the opening minutes, while Ayres’s well-taken attempt from inside the area was denied by a fine save from Liu Chen.
The Australian side’s determined start paid off when they were awarded an 11th minute penalty following a FVS review of Zeng Yujia’s tackle on Keane, and Ayres sent Liu the wrong way to put them in the lead.
Beijing were unfortunate not to level a minute later, Adama Congo’s shot parried by Melina Mieres and Zhao Yujie sounding the right post with her follow-up on the rebound.
Mieres pulled off another save on the half hour mark from Liang Wei’s quick strike on the turn while Zhao again found the woodwork, this time the crossbar, in the closing minutes.
The Chinese Women’s Super League side were denied a penalty claim by a FVS review in time added on as their constant pressing failed to alter the scoreline heading into the break.
Group C: Melbourne City FC (AUS) v Beijing Jingtan Football Club (CHN)
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Liang Wei, Zhao and Wang Shanshan missed chances within 10 minutes into the restart as Melbourne’s defence held steady, Li Qingtong seeing her thunderous strike in the 70th minute from the edge of the area denied by Mieres.
Liu made her first save of the second half when she easily collected Karly Roestbakken’s tame header off a corner in the 74th minute while her counterpart was forced into a full-length save moments later to tip over Saratou Traore’s curling attempt.
Keane ended Beijing Jingtan hopes a minute before regulation time with a superb solo effort, claiming the ball near the centreline and coming down the middle unchallenged to finish with a flourish past a lunging Liu.
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