A stunning goal from Shelby McMahon in the dying seconds of stoppage time has fired Melbourne City into the final of the AFC Women’s Champions League after they defeated Incheon Red Angels 1-0.
In a game that was affected by the sapping heat in China, both sides shared possession of the ball but failed to create many clear-cut chances throughout the 90 minutes.
With just seconds left to play in what was three minutes of stoppage time, 17-year-old McMahon took aim from distance and lashed a stunning strike into the top corner from the edge of the box to send her side through to the final of the AFC Women’s Champions League.
The result means City will now stay on in Wuhan for another three days before taking on host team Wuhan Jiangda on Saturday May 24, kick-off 10pm (AEST).
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Looking to control the tempo of the game early on, the Red Angels fashioned the first chance of the contest in just the fifth minute; winger Yuka Toriumi flashing a shot towards the near post which was comfortably saved by City keeper Malena Mieres.
Responding with an effort of their own, City were inches away from taking the lead in the ninth minute as midfielder Leticia McKenna snatched possession of the ball midway through the Incheon half before lashing an effort towards goal that crashed back off the crossbar.
Now upping the tempo, Bryleeh Henry forced keeper Kim Min-jeong into a smart save as she sent a volley towards the keeper’s near post which was palmed away for a corner.
Dominating possession of the ball, City then had another good chance to open the scoring in the 20th minute but McKenna sliced her volley wide of the target from inside the box.
Michael Matricciani’s side then had a scare shortly afterwards as winger Kim Seong-mi escaped the attention of Karly Roestbakken inside the box but couldn’t steer her header on target in what was a let off for the City defence.
McMahon was introduced at the break in place of Laura Hughes as head coach Matricciani looked to combat the sapping conditions in Wuhan.
Hoping a set-piece would be their route to goal, City were inches away from finding the back of the net in the final 15 minutes of the game as captain Rebekah Stott glanced a header narrowly wide of the target from a flat delivery into the box.
With the game meandering towards extra-time Red Angels substitute Haruhi Suzuki took matters into her own hands as she robbed Stott of the ball inside the City half before then attempting to lob Mieres, but thankfully for the City keeper the ball drifted over the top of the bar.
Mieres was then called into action in the 84th minute as she produced a brilliant fingertip save to turn a flicked effort past the far post which was bound for the back of the net.
But just as it looked as though the game was headed for extra-time the half-time substitute produced a career-defining moment on what was her 17th birthday.
With three minutes of time added on the referee was on the verge of blowing up for full-time but with City on the attack, the play continued.
Driving into the box, Lourdes Bosch saw her run halted by two defenders but the loose ball fell to McKenna and the move was still alive. Laying the ball back to McMahon, the teenager cushioned the ball into her stride before thumping an unstoppable drive into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of the keeper and City were into the final.
