MELBOURNE City is the W-League premier in its foundation season after a gripping 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar on Monday.
Kim Little’s early goal set City on its way to a 10th successive victory since joining the league.
Belinda Wilson’s Roar played beyond its seventh-place position, ensuring the occasion was a challenge as well a coronation.
City players were relieved rather than celebratory at the end — a reflection of the tightness of the contest and bigger prizes yet to be won.
City took the lead in the sixth minute when captain Lisa De Vanna cut in from the left, her cross narrowly evading Larissa Crummer to allow Scottish international Little to lash home.
A surging run from Steph Catley shortly after nearly brought a second, with the left-back’s cross sliced on to the bar by Roar defender Ruth Blackburn.
It seemed a matter of how many, but Roar steadied.
Led by midfielders Tameka Butt and Kat Gorry, Roar played itself into the occasion. In humid conditions on the Gold Coast, the teams failed to fashion clear-cut chances.
Both Crummer and Little should have closed out the match with 10 minutes left, but Haley Kopmayer made two fine one-on-one saves in the space of 30 seconds.
The difference proved to be Little’s strike and City’s defence, which maintained a clean sheet for the fifth-straight match.
City claimed a number of records on top of the trophy, awarded as second-placed Canberra United can no longer catch them.
City is the first team to win 10 straight W-League matches and keep six consecutive clean sheets.
It will host a semi-final — likely a double header with the A-League team on January 25 — and the final if it makes it.
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