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AAP
Anna Harrington, Joanna Guelas and Justin Chadwick

City go top of ALW with derby win, Phoenix beat Jets

Melbourne City players celebrate Emina Ekic's goal in their 1-0 ALW derby win against the Victory. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Melbourne City have claimed Christmas derby bragging rights and top spot of the A-League Women table with a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory.

Emina Ekic's goal in the 10th minute at AAMI Park on Saturday proved enough for City to leapfrog Perth, while the Victory remain fourth. 

Seventh-placed Central Coast piled the pain on last-placed Canberra United, with Wurigumula scoring a brace and Peta Trimis rounding out a 3-0 away win at McKellar Park.

Earlier, a clinical performance from Venezuelan forward Mariana Speckmaier delivered third-placed Wellington a 2-0 victory over Newcastle, while Adelaide United beat fellow strugglers Western Sydney 1-0 in the final game of the round.

Wellington players celebrate a Mariana Speckmaier goal.
Phoenix players celebrate Mariana Speckmaier's goal in the 2-0 win over Newcastle in Wellington. (Masanori Udagawa/AAP PHOTOS)

City were on the front foot against a disjointed Victory defence from the get-go and scored after Rhiana Pollicina slipped through Ekic.

With Victory captain and centre-back Kayla Morrison caught on the hop and full-back Jamilla Rankin sucked in by Pollicina, the winger had time to cut onto her left foot and coolly loop a lovely shot home.

City dominated most of the second half without reward due to a combination of Williams' brilliance and their own inefficiency.

But the Victory were unable to peg one back, with Rachel Lowe missing in the 47th and 68th minute and Beattie Goad blasting over the bar late.

"They (Victory) came in six games unbeaten so they came in in red-hot form and I'm sure they were really up for it today, and we just took control from the first second," City coach Dario Vidosic said.

"Today under that pressure in AAMI Park, derby day, massive build-up, (our players) were so brave and I'm so proud of them."

In Canberra, the Mariners took the lead in the 29th minute when Wurigumula received the ball out on the right, cut inside a defender then fired home from distance.

The China international added another on the break in the 69th minute and five minutes later Trimis burst down the left and finished with aplomb.

Wellington drew first blood at Sky Stadium against Newcastle when Speckmaier coolly converted a penalty in the 34th minute after Josie Wilson fouled Hope Breslin.

The 25-year-old then struck again just five minutes later, dancing through the Jets defence to this time deliver Breslin the ball in front of an empty goal.

With an Emily van Egmond-sized hole in the midfield, after her guest stint ended, Libby Copus-Brown stood tall to lead the Jets' charge.

Despite relentless Newcastle attacks, Canadian goalkeeper Rylee Foster proved unconquerable in front of the net.

It marks the Phoenix's first triumph over the Jets in four games and their fourth win at home of the season.

Adelaide kept their first clean sheet since December 17, 2022 courtesy of a goalkeeping masterclass from Annalee Grove in a 1-0 win over Western Sydney.

Reds midfielder Dylan Holmes scored the only goal of the match in the second minute after latching onto a beautiful through ball from Nanako Sasaki.

But it was Grove who was the ultimate hero after she produced a series of stunning one-on-one saves - including a crucial block deep into added time to deny Sophie Harding.

Adelaide's Ella Rose Tonkin will miss next week's clash with Newcastle after being red carded in the 89th minute. 

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