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Sport
Anna Harrington

Youngsters impress as City ease past Roar

Leah Davidson had an influential role in Melbourne City's 3-0 ALW win over the Brisbane Roar. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Matildas youngster Bryleeh Henry has scored her second goal in two games to steer Melbourne City to a comfortable 3-0 win over Brisbane Roar.

Henry, 20, netted in the 30th minute with Maria Jose Rojas adding a second in the 51st and Emina Ekic scoring in the 80th at Casey Fields to secure City's second win from as many matches.

Leah Davidson controlled the midfield while youngsters Henry and Daniela Galic showed flashes throughout.

City dominated from the outset and should have taken the lead after seven minutes when Annie Haffenden took down Ekic in the area.

Rojas stepped up to take the penalty but hit the post.

In the 20th minute, Davidson worked through traffic and found Rhianna Pollicina, whose ferocious strike forced a great save from Hensley Hancuff.

Ten minutes later, City's pressure paid off.

Ekic put in a cross and the ball clattered off Rojas' back and into the path of Henry who took a good touch around her defender and coolly finished.

Brisbane's half got worse when defender Jessie Rasschaert was forced out of the game with a lower-leg injury in the 36th minute, replaced by Holly McQueen.

Three minutes later, Brisbane had a rare sight on goal when Hollie Palmer tried her luck with a long-range shot but hit it straight at City goalkeeper Sally James.

In the 40th minute, Davidson teed up Galic, who evaded challenges but could not quite work her shot past Hancuff.

Three minutes into the second half, 16-year-old Galic fired over the bar.

Minutes later, Ekic cut the ball back to Galic whose fierce shot forced a good save from Hancuff, before Rojas leapt over Kajsa Lind to head home.

Brisbane's Sharn Freier missed in the 61st, and nine minutes later Lind made a big sliding challenge to deny Ekic.

But the American would not be denied, and Ekic finally curled home City's third after a lovely build-up.

Melissa Barbieri replaced James late and made a good save to deny Shea Connors at her near post in the 85th minute to maintain City's clean sheet.

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