Melbourne City goes down to Wuhan Jiangda in Asian Champions League final
Melbourne City has recorded a drama-filled defeat to Wuhan Jiangda on penalties to fall short in the inaugural Women's Asian Champions League final.
With scores locked at 1-1 after a chaotic 90 minutes and extra time, City skipper Rebekah Stott had the chance to seal victory at 4-4 in the penalty shootout in front of a hostile crowd in Wuhan.
But Stott fired a shot tamely straight at Wuhan goalkeeper Chen Chen.
Zhao Yuxin put Wuhan in front and Chen saved Bryleeh Henry's penalty to seal a remarkable shootout victory 5-4.
The defeat cost City $2 million in prize money and players had been in line to receive around $47,000 each.
Instead, the players each claim about $23,000 as runners-up, with the club's prize money approximately $1.25 million.
"It's gutting to lose like that," Stott said.
"I think we played well. We dominated the game. We should have come away with the win, but football is like that sometimes.
"It's disappointing. We're gutted."
Only a few weeks ago, City had high hopes of a treble after claiming the A-League Women premiership in an unbeaten regular season.
But City cost itself the chance to win the A-League Women championship after losing to Central Coast Mariners in the semifinals.
On Saturday night, 17-year-old Shelby McMahon headed home a wonderful free kick from Leticia McKenna in the 76th minute to put City in front.
Henry thought she had made it 2-0 in injury time but the goal was chalked off via VAR for a foul she had committed in the build-up.
From the subsequent free kick, Mariana Speckmaier was penalised for a handball — after a header ricocheted into her arm — via a VAR review and Wang Shuang equalised from the spot in the 98th minute.
City had two late chances to beat Wuhan in extra-time, while Stott was lucky not to be penalised for a handball in the 103rd minute.
McKenna dragged a shot wide in the 116th minute and Leah Davidson was unable to meet Speckmaier's wonderful squaring ball before the match went to spot kicks.
"Once it went into extra time, it got quite hectic, and not a lot of football was played," Stott said.
"I think we still could have got a goal. But it wasn't meant to be."
City qualified for next season's Champions League through winning the A-League Women premiership.
AAP
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