Latest news with #AWCL
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
City fall short of $2m trophy in drama-filled final
Melbourne City have suffered a heartbreaking and drama-filled defeat to Wuhan Jiangda on penalties to fall short in the 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 at the Wuhan Sports Center Stadium. Instead, she 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 costs City $2 million in prize money, and players had been in line to receive around $47,000 each. Instead the players each claim around $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." City had high hopes of a treble after claiming the A-League Women premiership in an unbeaten regular season, but lost to Central Coast in the semi-finals, then came up short on Saturday night. AET | 🇦🇺 Melbourne City FC 1️⃣-1️⃣ Wuhan Jiangda Women's FC 🇨🇳 (4-5 on pens)Wuhan Jiangda bounce back to become the first-ever #AWCL champions! 🏆#MCYvWUJ — AFC Women's Football (@TheAWCL) May 24, 2025 They have qualified for next season's Champions League through winning the premiership. "It's been unbelievable to be able to compete in this," Stott said. "We've loved every minute of it. "Obviously it hurts now, but to be a part of this competition has been so game changing for us and for women's football it's really important." City were unable to crack open Wuhan in the opening 45 minutes, though Malena Mieres made an incredible fingertip save to deny Wang Shuang a cracking long range goal with the final kick of the half. Three days after scoring a 94th-minute semi-final winner over Incheon Red Angels, 17-year-old Shelby McMahon's headed home a wonderful free kick from Leticia McKenna in the 76th minute to put City in front. Henry thought she'd 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 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 win the game 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 while Leah Davidson was unable to meet Mariana Speckmaier's wonderful squaring ball in the 121st minute and the game 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." The brilliant Mieres' save from Song Duan at 3-3 put City in charge of the shootout, but they could not seal the deal.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Teen's heroics keeps City's big-money trophy bid alive
Teen sensation Shelby McMahon has pulled off a wonder strike at the death to steer Melbourne City to a 1-0 win over Incheon Red Angels and into the Women's Asian Champions League Final. With a monster prize packet on the line, City had looked set to head to extra time against the South Korean outfit at the Wuhan Sports Center Stadium on Wednesday. Then the 17-year-old schoolgirl McMahon, who had replaced Laura Hughes at half-time, unleashed a thunderous right-foot drive into the top corner from 25 yards in the 94th minute to send City into ecstasy. 𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒄𝒉!💥17-year-old Shelby McMahon with a last-gasp stunner for 🇦🇺 Melbourne City! #AWCL | #REDvMCY — AFC Women's Football (@TheAWCL) May 21, 2025 "I don't shoot from out there - I don't know what I was thinking," McMahon told AAP. "I went for it and we'll take it. "You've got to take the half-chances if they're there. "The girls were yelling 'shoot!' so trusting my teammates and trusting myself to get us across the line was the biggest, most important part." City will face Chinese club Wuhan Jiangda, who beat Ho Chi Minh City 2-0 in the other semi-final courtesy of wonderful strikes from China star Wang Shuang and fellow capped international Song Duan. City went unbeaten in the regular season to claim the A-League Women premiership but were knocked out in the semi-finals by Central Coast, scuppering their hopes of a treble. But continental glory, and its substantial pay packet, is within touching distance. "It's definitely redemption that's for sure," McMahon said. City will pocket at least $1.25 million by reaching the final of the inaugural full women's tournament, with the winners on Sunday claiming $2 million. "It's the first time, so proud that we can represent Australia and be the ones to give it a crack," year 12 student McMahon said. "Obviously the money means a lot more to the girls in the team than it does to me at 17." The youngster has had to work on assignments during her overseas jaunts with City. "A couple of times the teacher's asking me why aren't I handing stuff in," smiled McMahon. "I'm like, 'I'm a little busy!' So hopefully it'll be good to show that I've been doing something that's worthwhile." 🤩 WE'RE GOING TO THE #AWCL FINAL!SHELBY McMAHON 👏👏👏#REDvMCY — Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) May 21, 2025 City had received a welcome boost with striker Holly McNamara cleared to start after recovering from a concussion suffered against the Mariners. The Matildas striker was busy as she notched her first full 90 minutes since returning from her third knee reconstruction. Mariana Speckmaier also returned to City's starting line-up. Incheon were lively early, then City's Leticia McKenna crashed a scintillating long-range strike into the crossbar in the 10th minute. It sparked a run of chances from Rebekah Stott, Bryleeh Henry and McKenna and McNamara. Incheon hit their straps after the break and while McKenna skimmed a free kick over the bar in the 76th minute, a flurry of Incheon chances followed. Haruhi Suzuki whipped a long-range effort over the bar, then City goalkeeper Malena Mieres made a wonderful save to turn away a would-be goal from Kim So-Eun. Lee So-hee skimmed another free kick onto the roof of the net in the 87th. Then, with the seconds ticking down, McMahon received the ball from McKenna then let rip.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
City cruise into Asian Women's Champions League semis
Melbourne City have charged into the semi-finals of the inaugural Women's Asian Champions League with a comfortable 3-0 win over Taiwanese club Taichung Blue Whale. City will play Incheon Red Angels in May, after the South Korean club beat Iran's Bam Khatoon 1-0 in their quarter-final. The semi-finals and final will be held at an as-yet undetermined centralised venue. Mariana Speckmaier scored in the fourth minute before a a Blue Whale own goal in the 43rd doubled City's lead. Holly McNamara won a penalty and converted it in the 63rd minute to decide Sunday's quarter-final in front of 1865 fans at AAMI Park. First #AWCL goal for Holly Mac 🌟#MCYvTBW | 🩵 3-0 🔵 — Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) March 23, 2025 The A-League Women leaders will hope star striker McNamara has avoided injury after she came from the field following a knock to her right knee two minutes after her goal. She had reached for her right knee, but got up and left the field under her own steam. McNamara, who has overcome three knee reconstructions, had been due to be substituted, and appeared in good spirits later in the match. The home side took the lead when Taylor Otto looped an athletic effort goal bound before Speckmaier made it a certainty by slamming the ball home. City doubled their lead when McNamara's cross deflected off Li Pei-jung and keeper Tsai Ming-jung could only knock it further into her own net. In the 63rd minute, McNamara was brought down by goalkeeper Tsai and coolly stepped up to take the penalty herself and converted. . @MelbourneCity lead in their AFC Women's Champions League Quarter-Final inside 4 MINUTES! 🔥Watch #MCYvTBW live and free on 10 Play. — Ninja A-League (@aleaguewomen) March 23, 2025 Substitute Emilia Murray won another penalty in the 77th minute but Tsai saved Leticia McKenna's spot-kick. Taichung came desperately close to scoring when Tanaka's shot slipped through Mieres's open hands and hit the crossbar, only for the City goalkeeper to catch it again. City, who are aiming to complete a treble this season, face a tight turnaround to play Brisbane Roar at Perry Park on Wednesday, then Wellington away at Porirua Park on Sunday.
