Goal of the year contender and 15-year-old rising star combine to hand City the Premier’s Plate in dramatic day of play

Melbourne City overcame Sydney FC to reach the A-League Women Premier’s Plate on Sunday after wildly contrasting results on opposite coasts of Australia.

At Leichhardt Oval, Melbourne Victory ruined Sydney’s party with a stunning 4-0 scoreline capped by a stunning error from goalkeeper Jada Whyman.

Three hours later in Perth, City capitalized on their mistake, winning 2-1 and surviving a late scare from Perth Glory to claim the premiership.

Rhianna Pollicina put the visitors ahead with one of the goals of the season.

Receiving the ball with his back to the goal, Pollicina turned his marker and fired a curling shot to the far post, beating Morgan Aquino to the full extent.

Leading from the eighth minute, City kept Glory at bay throughout the contest before Young Matildas captain Shelby McMahon made a late tackle and sealed the result.

The 15-year-old chose the perfect moment to score her first senior goal, receiving the ball from the byline and dancing between two Glory defenders before firing home at the near post.

While Perth’s Tanika Lala scored a 94th-minute goal to cause concern, Dario Vidosic’s side held on to celebrate in the West.

Sydney FC, who entered the week knowing a win over Canberra or Melbourne Victory would seal their fourth consecutive premiership, squandered both attempts at silverware.

After a 1-0 defeat in the capital on Wednesday, the Sky Blues lost color again on Sunday and were not helped by Whyman’s moment of madness.

Already behind Alana Murphy’s volley, the Matildas goalkeeper had possession, but clearly touched the ankle of his international teammate Alex Chidiac, which led to a yellow card and a penalty, dispatched by his former teammate Rachel Lowe.

Emily Gielnik scored a superb third goal just after the hour mark and Chidiac added the exclamation point, racing clear in stoppage time and coolly finishing for the 4-0 victory.

The result saved Victory’s season. They started the day outside the top six, but jumped to fourth place on a jammed table.

Western Sydney was eliminated from the finals, missing just its second post-season appearance in 12 seasons.

The victory also means that the first week of the finals, after a week’s break for international matches, will take place in Melbourne.

Third-placed Western host Newcastle Jets, while Victory’s prize for jumping to fourth place is a home final against Central Coast.

The top two finishers, City and Sydney FC, enjoyed contrasting Sundays, but will have a fortnight off to celebrate or commiserate before reaching the top four final.

AAP