Sydney FC have secured their first victory of the W-League season thanks to a late winner from star American import Megan Rapinoe.
Sydney FC secured their first victory of the W-League season thanks to a late winner from star American import Megan Rapinoe, who completed a brief stint with the premiers in stunning fashion.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who played a key role in USA's run to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup final, capped a dazzling performance with the decisive goal seven minutes from time to down a hard-working Melbourne Victory 2-1.
Sydney's Kylie Ledbrook opened the scoring in the early stages and a second-half Jodie Taylor penalty looked to have earned the visitors a share of the points until Rapinoe's late intervention.
After an indifferent start to her two-game stint last weekend in the 1-1 draw against champions Brisbane Roar, Rapinoe proved a constant threat to the Victory defence.
A virtuoso attacking performance could have yielded several goals and a thunderous long-range free-kick that rattled the crossbar was among the highlights.
The win took the Sky Blues to second spot, two points off leaders Canberra United with the pair to meet next weekend in Sydney.
United maintained their early position at the top of the standings with a 3-2 comeback win against Perth Glory.
A second-half hat-trick from Michelle Heyman got Canberra home, after New Zealand international Emma Kete had given the visiting Glory a halftime lead on her W-League debut.
Heyman's 16-minute treble lifted her goalscoring tally to 25, one clear of Leena Khamis' previous W-League all-time record.
Newcastle Jets took to the field for the first time this season, following a bye in the opening round, and the new-look side didn't disappoint on home soil.
The Jets ran out comfortable 3-0 victors against Adelaide United with new signing Lisa De Vanna bagging a double, and setting up the other goal for Linda O'Neill.
The league's other high profile international recruit, two-time German Women's World Cup winner Ariane Hingst, turned in a solid debut in defence.
So too did another new face, Matildas goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, with the Jets' goal rarely threatened.
An overwhelmed Adelaide finished the game with ten players after Katherine Ebbs was sent from the field late on for a second yellow card.
