A lethal cutting edge in the first half set up a Melbourne City masterclass, as they piled on six unanswered goals against hosts Sydney FC in their W-League debut.
A first-half double to Matildas forward Larissa Crummer was bolstered by singles to Lisa De Vanna, Marianna Tabain, Beattie Goad and debutant Melina Ayres, rounding off a perfect afternoon at Lambert Park.
It took just 11 minutes for the visitors to fashion an opening on the Sky Blues’ goal as City immediately looked at home in the Australian top-flight.
Crummer took that opportunity with open arms, expertly latching onto Tabain’s weighted through ball, taking a touch past Sydney keeper Michelle Betos and clinically dispatching from a tight angle.
Chances fell at both ends in a relatively tight opening half an hour, with both sides taking time to adjust their radars with a number of long-range attempts.
Sydney pushed hard to work their way back into the contest, as City spurned chances to double their advantage.
But seemingly with the flick of a switch, Melbourne found a second gear to push into as they stormed into the break with three quick-fire goals.
A swarm of City players converged on the ball after Ellyse Perry coughed up possession on the right side of defence; Goad, Tabain and Crummer all exchanging passes before eventually freeing up De Vanna, who tucked her shot through the legs of Betos to double their lead.
Betos’ shallow clearance with just two minutes remaining of the half was met by Amy Jackson inside her attacking half, the resulting ball swept on by Tabain who looped a ball over the top for Goad to volley home into the bottom right corner.
It was turning out to be a nightmare debut for Sydney’s new keeper who conceded a fourth in the 45th minute; Kyah Simon this time caught in possession by the immensely impressive Tabain, who after a couple of short passes found Crummer on the edge of the area.
The striker tussled with Alanna Kennedy on the edge of the box, winning the physical battle before turning on a sixpence to volley into the bottom corner with her marker cutting a dejected figure on the floor.
There was more to come for City as a Goad cross from the left of the area was parried by Betos to the top of the 18-yard-box, where Tabain sensed an opportunity with the keeper out of position, firing a shot at goal which trickled over despite the best efforts of Renee Rollason on the line.
A late challenge from Guajardo gave skipper Teresa Polias the chance to pull one back for the hosts but City’s Trudy Burke stood firm to the task, reading the ball off the boot and parrying the spot-kick away from a generous saving height.
To add insult to injury, 16-year-old Ashburton United product Melina Ayres scored on her W-League debut; the substitute providing an overlapping run for Steph Catley on the left, before tucking inside and finishing well on the angle.
There was time late on for Boroondara Eagles fullback Olivia Ellis to also make her W-League bow, introduced in the 86th minute for the outstanding Tabain.
Sydney weren’t without their chances in the second term, but the defensive duo of Rebekah Stott and Laura Alleway were in fine form to deny them on multiple occasions, as was Trudy Burke who put forward a strong account of herself in the absence of Bri Davey.
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Match Details:
Sydney FC 0 defeated by Melbourne City FC 6 (Crummer 11′ 45′, De Vanna 39’, Goad 43’, Tabain 61’, Ayres 89’) at Lambert Park [HT: 0-4]
Sydney FC: 1. Michelle Betos (GK), 8. Amy Harrison, 14. Alanna Kennedy, 10. Renee Rollason, 3. Ellyse Perry, 7. Nicola Bolger (13. Trudy Camilleri 54′), 6. Teresa Polias (c), 17. Kyah Simon, 4. Sunny Franco, 5. Jasmyne Spencer, 19. Leena Khamis
Unused Substitute(s): 18. Sham Khamis (GK), 15. Teigen Allen, 11. Natalie Tobin
Yellow Card(s): Franco 62′, Khamis 68′, Harrison 78′
Red Card(s): Nil
Melbourne City: 20. Trudy Burke (GK), 18. Anisa Guajardo, 5. Laura Alleway, 13. Rebekah Stott, 7. Steph Catley, 15. Amy Jackson, 6. Aivi Luik, 17. Marianna Tabain (12. Olivia Ellis 86′), 16. Beattie Goad (14. Melina Ayres 82′), 9. Larissa Crummer, 11. Lisa De Vanna (c, 3. Alex Chidiac 70′)
Unused Substitute(s): Kelsey Quinn (GK)
Yellow Card(s): Guajardo 29′
Red Card(s): Nil