A double from Rhianna Pollicina has helped A-League Women heavyweights Melbourne City bounce back from a rare defeat to see off Canberra United 4-0 in Queanbeyan.
The brace from the City skipper either of halftime, combined with second-half strikes from Cote Rojas and Daniela Galic, allowed the visitors to triumph in warm evening conditions at Seiffert Oval.
The result is set to see City head into Christmas at the top of standings on goal difference, unless Sydney FC can secure a goal-laden win over Western Sydney on Christmas Eve. Canberra now sit in seventh spot on the ladder with 1 win, 2 losses and 2 draws so far this season.
City coach Dario Vidosic, having named an unchanged side for the first month of the season, made two changes after last week’s 3-1 loss to Western United, with Chelsea Blissett and Leticia McKenna coming in for American forward Emina Ekic and Daniela Galic.
Canberra faded as the match wore on after being unable to take advantage on a promising start.
Evergreen striker Michelle Heyman created two openings within as many minutes midway through the first period, the latter requiring a sharp save from City goalkeeper Sally James.
But it was Pollicina who opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark with a superb first-time finish from the edge of the penalty area, following a smart ball through the middle from central defender Naomi Chinnama.
The contest was all but over ten minutes after the interval when Pollicina pulled the trigger on a loose ball to double the advantage.
Rojas then finished from near the penalty spot after City confidently exchanged passes on the edge of the box.
Canberra lost Canadian import Kennedy Faulknor to a worrying knee injury, while Grace Maher received lengthy treatment before seeing out the match.
There was, however, some good news for the home side with former Matildas defender and AFLW Greater Western Sydney player Ellie Brush taking the field in the A-League Women for the first time in two years.
The pick of the goals came in the dying minutes with 16-year-old Galic expertly placing a 20-metre shot into the top corner.
