Jančevski Free Kick Gives Victory Opening Win

Alana Jančevski needed one swing of her left foot to give Melbourne Victory a winning start to the A-League Women season. Her free kick from about 30 yards in the 32nd minute beat Sarah Langman and decided a 1-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park on Saturday afternoon in Sydney, the first of three opening-round matches that kicked off overnight Eastern time.

The Wanderers opened a new era under captain Rhianna Pollicina, a former Victory player, but lost her to a non-contact injury in the 16th minute. Her replacement, Samantha Iredale, committed the foul on Zoe McMeeken that set up the winning free kick. Victory had the clearer chances after the goal. McMeeken sliced wide in the first half, and Anna Sutter could not connect cleanly with a cross early in the second. At the other end, Courtney Newbon, the reigning A-League Women Goalkeeper of the Year and a recent Matildas call-up, saved from Talia Younis after an Allyssa Ng-Saad cross, and Langman kept the margin at one with a save from a Chelsea Blissett header. Jeff Hopkins started four summer signings in Angie Beard, Sophie Harding, Sutter and Alicia Woods, and Victory won without Grace Maher, Nickoletta Flannery and Poppy O'Keeffe, all injured.