Melbourne City grew stronger with each game in the group stage, edging the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Bam Khatoon FC 2-1 in their opening match. Rhianna Pollicina opened the scoring in the 40th minute, before Mariana Speckmaier doubled the lead just three minutes later.

City then breezed past Thailand’s College of Asian Scholars with a 3-0 triumph, sealing their place in the knockout stage. The dominant display saw the Speckmaier-Pollicina duo put City ahead in the 16th minute, followed by defender Tyla-Jay Vlajnic getting her name on the scoresheet after consistently pressuring the Thai defence. Substitute Lourdes Bosch then made an instant impact, netting the third goal just two minutes after coming on.

Melbourne City wrapped up their group stage campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Kaya FC Iloilo of the Philippines, remaining perfect to top of Group B. 

In control from the very first minute, City stormed to a 3-0 lead within the opening 10 minutes, with Speckmaier scoring her third goal of the competition in the fourth minute, before captain Rebekah Stott extended the lead three minutes later. Bosch completed the win with a brace on either side of the break, as the Michael Matricciani-led side marched into the last eight. 

Melbourne City FC faced Chinese Taipei’s Taichung Blue Whale Women’s Football Team in the quarter-finals, delivering another stunning performance with a 3-0 triumph. An early goal from prolific striker Mariana Speckmaier got the team from Down Under off to a strong start, with their lead extended by an own goal from Taichung’s Li Pei-jung.

City then capped off the win with a third goal from striker Holly McNamara in the 63rd minute, firmly announcing their arrival in the last four.

After a gruelling contest that extended beyond 90 minutes, it was a last-gasp stunner from 17-year-old Shelby McMahon in the final seconds of stoppage time that saw Melbourne City FC edge Korea Republic’s Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC in the semi-final to book their place in the historic final.