Western Sydney Wanderers have sprung one of the biggest upsets of the A-League Women season, stunning Melbourne City 2-0 and snapping a year-long winless run.
Entering Sunday afternoon’s contest at Wanderers Football Park without a win in their past 15 matches, goals from Sheridan Gallagher and Olivia Price ensured coach Kat Smith’s side tasted success for the first time in 364 days.
Entering play as the league’s most free-scoring side and needing a win to return to the top of the table, City couldn’t find a way through the host’s defence, which kept its first clean sheet since a 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar on January 9, 2022.
Playing without attacker Emina Ekic after her broken leg against Perth, City’s best early chance came when Daniela Galic delivered a cutback that Hannah Wilkinson sent straight at keeper Jordyn Bloomer in the 12th minute.
Five minutes later the Wanderers had a chance to take the lead when a turnover from City allowed Sarina Bolden to play Price in behind their lines, only for her shot to go wide.
Rhianna Pollicina tried to blast City ahead with a 34th minute free-kick but the effort sailed over Bloomer’s goal.
Five minutes before halftime, Gallagher struck when she launched a shot from the corner of the penalty area that took a touch off Chelsea Blisset and flew into the air, where the wind helped guide it inside the far post.
Ten minutes into the second half it was 2-0 when the hosts forced a high turnover and worked the ball to Price atop the box in a position in which she could fire home.
It could have been even more for the Wanderers had Bolden had her shooting boots on but the Philippine international spurned several golden chances in her otherwise stellar ALW debut.
