Melbourne City are the inaugural Melbourne W-League Derby Champions with a challenging 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.

Due to the curiously scheduled timing of international friendlies for the Matildas, both teams were depleted of a number of key players, affording the opportunity to experiment with new names.

Melbourne City - Key Points and Players

Even without Kim Little, Jess Fishlock and their four Matildas, Melbourne City still look good, with the heroes of the day Tyla Jay (TJ) Vlajnic, for a goal line save, and Marianna Tabain for scoring the opening goal, earning the penalty kick and a strong game throughout.

Beattie Goad continues to impress with her work rate and awareness. One of the most engaging match ups for the day was Goad versus Victory’s Briar Palmer/Brooke Elby, with each of the players showcasing their skills, speed and talent.

Rebekah Stott demonstrated why she’s a regular on the New Zealand international team. Her penetrating runs from the backline, through the midfield were almost unstoppable, but as was the case with many of the forays from both teams, it fell down in the final third.

For City, they’re two for two with a pretty healthy goal difference, but as good as they are, City still have a lot to work on.

Their inability to pull the trigger cleanly blocked them from a bigger scoreline and they were also wasteful, using the ball too quickly, rushing and sometimes making poor choices.

Vlajnic conceded, it was “The will and the want and I think that’s what got us through the second half”. That and the half time pep talk from “Pepe” Montemurro to “make history”

The introduction of Little and Fishlock along with the reintroduction of the Steph Catley, Larissa Crummer, Laura Alleway and Lisa De Vanna should enable a much better use of the ball and distribution.

Now the question needs to be asked? Will the W-League see some of these round 2 starting players again? With Racheal Quigley, Vlajnic and Hannah Brewer all stating their cases.

Melbourne Victory - Key Points and Players

Given City’s match last week against Sydney FC, much was expected of them, but the big surprise was how tall the young Melbourne Victory squad stood as well.

Boasting a work rate equal to City in the first half, Victory’s intensity was high on and off the ball with last week’s goal scorer Laura Spiranovic in particular tormenting City, using her physicality to win possession on numerous occasions.

The underlying question was, how long would Victory be able to maintain that level as well as keep their concentration.

The answer arrived in the second half with an error providing City their first goal and Victory often looking puzzled thereafter.

Part of the confusion appeared to be in Victory lacking options up forward. Spiranovic was invariably required to drop back and support the midfield in contested balls, leaving no-one high to receive it.

After two games and zero points you could be forgiven for thinking Victory are in trouble. The truth is, there are an abundance of positives for this young squad who should still hold their heads up high.

After the game Melissa Barbieri was a mixture of complimentary and frustration with the result.

“We’ve got kids out there” she said. “I can’t fault the girls. They’re leaving nothing in the tank”.

“Every week it’s going to be about building on that platform. When you have such a short period of time together, I mean we’ve only been together for three weeks prior to the season, and that’s not good in that preparation respect but I think it’s good in how far we’ve actually come in such a short period.”

Victory were competitive. Whitney Knight scored on debut epitomising the confidence of the young Victory squad. Annabel Martin was courageous in defence, Brooke Elby’s pace and support with Briar Palmer was critical, keeping Victory in the game when it could have been taken away from them.

All in all, a strong showing from Victory, demonstrating their strong ethic of teamwork, something which will be invaluable in this ultra competitive season.

Up Next

For City, a full strength squad will travel to take on Season 7 league winners Perth Glory while Victory will search for their first points against the Newcastle Jets at home.

Melbourne City 2 (Marianna Tabain 49’, Aivi Luik 72’ pen)

Melbourne Victory 1 (Whitney Knight 92’)

Sunday 25 October 2015 AAMI Park, Melbourne Kick-off: 2pm

Referee: Casey Reibelt

Melbourne City: Trudy Burke (gk), Aivi Luik, Alexandra Chidiac, Rebekah Stott, Amy Jackson (Olivia Ellis 86’), Beatrice Goad (Tessa Sernio 90’), Marianna Tabain (Melina Ayres 82’), Anisa Guajardo, Hannah Brewer, Tyla Jay Vlajnic, Racheal Quigley

Substitutes – Kelsey Quinn (gk)

Melbourne Victory: Melissa Barbieri (gk) (c), Alexandria Natoli, Brooke Elby, Briar Palmer, Annabel Martin, Enza Barilla, Jamie Pollock (Jessica Pitts 79’), Laura Spiranovic, Melindaj Barbieri (Whitney Knight 69’), Thea Slatyer, Adriana Taranto (Melissa Taranto 32’)

Substitutes – Cassandra Dimovski (gk) Cautions – Alexandra Natoli 71’