Teen’s heroics keeps City’s big-money trophy bid alive

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Teen’s heroics keeps City’s big-money trophy bid alive

Teen sensation Shelby McMahon has pulled off a wonder strike at the death to steer Melbourne City to a 1-0 win over Incheon Red Angels and into the Women’s Asian Champions League Final.

With a monster prize packet on the line, City had looked set to head to extra time against the South Korean outfit at the Wuhan Sports Center Stadium on Wednesday.

Then the 17-year-old schoolgirl McMahon, who had replaced Laura Hughes at half-time, unleashed a thunderous right-foot drive into the top corner from 25 yards in the 94th minute to send City into ecstasy.

“I don’t shoot from out there – I don’t know what I was thinking,” McMahon told AAP.

“I went for it and we’ll take it.

“You’ve got to take the half-chances if they’re there.

“The girls were yelling ‘shoot!’ so trusting my teammates and trusting myself to get us across the line was the biggest, most important part.”

City will face ******** club Wuhan Jiangda, who beat Ho Chi Minh City 2-0 in the other semi-final courtesy of wonderful strikes from China star Wang Shuang and fellow capped international Song Duan.

City went unbeaten in the regular season to claim the A-League Women premiership but were knocked out in the semi-finals by Central Coast, scuppering their hopes of a treble.

But continental glory, and its substantial pay packet, is within touching distance.

“It’s definitely redemption that’s for sure,” McMahon said.

City will pocket at least $1.25 million by reaching the final of the inaugural full women’s tournament, with the winners on Sunday claiming $2 million.

“It’s the first time, so proud that we can represent Australia and be the ones to give it a crack,” year 12 student McMahon said.

“Obviously the money means a lot more to the girls in the team than it does to me at 17.”

The youngster has had to work on assignments during her overseas jaunts with City.

“A couple of times the teacher’s asking me why aren’t I handing stuff in,” smiled McMahon.

“I’m like, ‘I’m a little busy!’ So hopefully it’ll be good to show that I’ve been doing something that’s worthwhile.”

City had received a welcome boost with striker Holly McNamara cleared to start after recovering from a concussion suffered against the Mariners.

The Matildas striker was busy as she notched her first full 90 minutes since returning from her third knee reconstruction.

Mariana Speckmaier also returned to City’s starting line-up.

Incheon were lively early, then City’s Leticia McKenna crashed a scintillating long-range strike into the crossbar in the 10th minute.

It sparked a run of chances from Rebekah Stott, Bryleeh Henry and McKenna and McNamara.

Incheon hit their straps after the break and while McKenna skimmed a free kick over the bar in the 76th minute, a flurry of Incheon chances followed.

Haruhi Suzuki whipped a long-range effort over the bar, then City goalkeeper Malena Mieres made a wonderful save to turn away a would-be goal from Kim So-Eun.

Lee So-hee skimmed another free kick onto the roof of the net in the 87th.

Then, with the seconds ticking down, McMahon received the ball from McKenna then let rip.

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