A-League Finals Series: Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar take the edge in semi-final first legs

A-League Finals Series: Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar take the edge in semi-final first legs

The Ninja A-League Finals continued at the weekend as the semi-final first legs began.

Premiers Melbourne City and regular season runners-up Wellington Phoenix entered the fray as they travelled for their respective first leg games.

Here’s how the first legs of the A-League semi-final round unfolded.

Melbourne Victory 0-1 Melbourne City

Premiers Melbourne City recorded a narrow 1-0 win over rivals Melbourne Victory thanks to Leticia McKenna’s free-kick.

Rachel Lowe’s spectacular ninth minute volley was well dealt with by City’s Malena Mieres who palmed the ball away.

City nearly took the lead with 20 minutes gone, but Leah Davidson’s near post header was pushed away by Courtney Newbon. They did take the lead just before the break though, when Newbon misjudged the flight of McKenna’s free-kick as it sailed into the back of the net.

Holly Furphy was denied by the advancing Mieres early in the second half. The Spaniard stood tall to stop the Victory player’s lob.

Holly McNamara saw appeals for a penalty waved away with an hour gone as City looked the most likely to grab the next goal. However, they couldn’t add to their tally and will take a one goal advantage into Saturday’s second leg.

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Brisbane Roar 2-1 Wellington Phoenix

Brisbane will take a slender lead across the ditch for the second leg after coming out on top at Spencer Park.

Grace Jale gave the Phoenix a dream start as she put them ahead inside two minutes. She rose highest at the back post to head home Manaia Elliott’s corner.