Over the past weekend, league leaders Melbourne City squared up against the number two team, Adelaide United. There was perhaps hope from some that this might be the weekend the W-league’s newest, and most dominant team would be stopped. However in a 2-0 win, with goals from Larissa Crummer and Jess Fishlock, Adelaide United fell short of their goal.

Melbourne City - Strengths

There is no question that Melbourne City is a team with strengths abound. Their perfect start to the season speaks volumes, but the weekend’s game was not a cakewalk.

Melbourne City did have to earn this win and without the playmaking capabilities of captain Lisa De Vanna. That said, this team was relentless, pushing from the whistle, there was pressure on the Adelaide defense.

What this team did particularly well was utilizing the width of the field. Long crosses, and equally as lengthy bouts of possession saw Melbourne City completing passing chains upwards of a dozen passes.

This is a team that is comfortable and confident on and off the ball, which they made abundantly clear throughout the entire game.

It was Jess Fishlock, captain for the City team, who stepped up in this game. She was integral through the midfield, connecting passes from the defense to the offense with ease, chasing back balls and wheeling and dealing across the top of the Adelaide box. Her goal was world class, Kim Little having barreled past Alexandra Gummer all the way to the touch line to send the ball across the mouth of the goal to the waiting Fishlock.

Melbourne City - Weaknesses

The absence of De Vanna was felt by this team.

While yes, they were offensively capable and dominant throughout the game, they lacked the ability to finish throughout. Crummer’s goal in the first half came from a corner kick, but City had opportunities abound.

However what they lacked was putting the ball in the back of the net. Getting caught at the top of the box with the ball and nothing to do with it, misfired shots, this was not the team’s strongest performance.

Also of note, this is not a team that has been challenged many times defensively. However in this game, Adelaide stepped up and monopolized upon the few City breakdowns, leading to a near breakaway.

To say, this would have been a very different game if De Vanna had been eligible and perhaps a far more dominant team would have stepped onto the field.

Adelaide United - Strengths

It would be remiss to discuss this game and not talk about Kaitlyn Savage’s saves. Time and time again she stepped up to make some world class saves, keeping her team in this game without a doubt.

Also important and of note, Abby Dahlkemper, the American international, stepped up in the Adelaide defence causing problems for the City attack.

As a whole as well, the Adelaide defense found themselves in the spotlight for most of the game, and held up well. Their strong defensive performance, something other teams have struggled with against City, was able to keep this scoreline at only 2-0.

Adelaide United - Weaknesses

Not a weakness per se, rather just a struggle - Adelaide United’s offense was all but not present. With most of the game spent in their defensive third, Rosie Sutton had a comparatively quieter weekend than last. This game also saw the return of captain Marijana Rajcic, who made her presence known, if only a few times.

This was a team that gave a strong performance. While they didn’t come away with the win, they certainly provided a challenge to the Melbourne City side.