MELBOURNE (Interstat) — Nasaf Qarshi W (Uzb) W scored in the first minute and added a late goal to defeat Melbourne City W 2-0 on Sunday at AAMI Park. Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva put the visitors ahead in the first minute, and Lyudmila Karachik sealed the result in the 86th. The victory gave Nasaf Qarshi W a 1-0 record in the competition and a 1-0 mark across all competitions, while Melbourne City W dropped to 0-1 in the competition and 2-1 overall. Nasaf Qarshi W was the visiting team and Melbourne City W was the home team in the match played in Melbourne, Australia.

Khabibullaeva’s early goal set the tone for Nasaf Qarshi, which protected its lead before Karachik struck late. Nilufar Kudratova provided both assists, linking the play that produced the opening goal and the clincher. Khabibullaeva and Karachik each scored once for Nasaf Qarshi, while Kudratova’s two assists underpinned the visitors’ attacking output. Melbourne City, the home side, pressed for a response but could not find a goal. Nasaf Qarshi’s Mamatkarimova was booked in the 18th minute, and Adams received a yellow card in the 45th. The early goal forced Melbourne City to chase the match, and the second yellow card came just before the break.

The listed performances placed Khabibullaeva, Karachik and Kudratova at the center of Nasaf Qarshi’s victory. Khabibullaeva recorded one goal, Karachik recorded one goal and Kudratova recorded two assists, with all three on the field for the full match. Their contributions accounted for Nasaf Qarshi’s two goals and both assists. Mamatkarimova and Adams were the players listed with yellow cards, while the substitutions began early for Melbourne City and continued through stoppage time for both sides.

The first half also included an early Melbourne City substitution when Nash came on in the 15th minute. Mamatkarimova’s yellow card followed in the 18th minute, and Adams was booked in the 45th. Nasaf Qarshi went into the second half with a one-goal lead and then added insurance when Karachik scored in the 86th minute. Melbourne City made another change when Prakash entered in the 63rd minute, while Roestbakken came on in the 85th. Nasaf Qarshi used Ablyakimova in the 78th minute and Egamberdieva in the 85th before bringing on Karachik and Mamatkarimova in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

The match was played at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne City had won its two previous matches this season, beating Sydney 5-0 and Wellington Phoenix 2-1. The home side could not extend that run against Nasaf Qarshi, which made the most of its early breakthrough and late finish. The result moved Nasaf Qarshi to 1-0 in the competition and 1-0 across all competitions, while Melbourne City fell to 0-1 in the competition and 2-1 overall. Melbourne City’s competition record now stands at 0 wins and 1 loss, and its overall record is 2 wins and 1 loss. Nasaf Qarshi’s competition record is 1 win and 0 losses, matching its overall record of 1 win and 0 losses.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Melbourne City W 2, Nasaf Qarshi W (Uzb) W 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Melbourne City W with a 91.4 percent probability to win. Melbourne City W had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 2 went over the over-under line of 3.5.