Newcomers Western United have underlined their legitimacy as Liberty A-League Championship contenders, beating Sydney FC 2-0 to claim their seventh straight win and go outright top of the table.
Hannah Keane’s well-taken first-half double proved the difference, while Sydney’s defence had no answers for Women’s World Cup winner Jessica McDonald.
United have enjoyed the best start as an expansion team since Melbourne City’s unbeaten season in 2015-16, including beating all of last season’s top four: premiers Sydney, City, Adelaide United and reigning champions Victory.
They have won their past two despite being without Matildas midfielder and former Sydney FC star Chloe Logarzo (foot) and top the table on 21 points, three clear of Sydney with a game in hand.
Sydney’s star forward Madison Haley missed several good chances, Princess Ibini was unable to strike in her 100th game and Matildas winger Cortnee Vine was quiet and hooked after 55 minutes.
Skipper Nat Tobin, who had her left thigh heavily taped, pulled up proppy in the 76th minute and came off five minutes later.
United took the lead in the 18th minute when Emma Robers withstood a physical challenge and found McDonald, who whipped the ball into the area.
Goalkeeper Katie Offer, deputising for the injured Jada Whyman, got her hands to the cross but the ball spilled to Melissa Taranto who squared it for Keane to score.
Seventeen minutes later, United got another after McDonald bamboozled Tobin out wide, played a one-two with Stacey Papadopoulos then found Robers.
The midfielder smacked the ball into the box and Tyla-Jay Vlajnic beat Charlize Rule to knock the ball into the path of Keane, who coolly converted.
The strike took Keane equal top of the Liberty A-League scoring charts, with five to her credit so far this season.
Sydney striker Haley blasted three chances off target in the 36th, 39th and 41st minutes while Sarah Hunter also spurned a couple of more difficult opportunities.
McDonald looked certain to score United’s third in the 74th minute when she headed Vlajnic’s wonderful corner goalwards but Sydney’s Shay Hollman cleared the ball off the line.
Haley dragged a late chance into the side netting to cap off a frustrating day.
