Canberra United remain winless on the road this season after they were thrashed by three-time reigning champions Melbourne City 3-0 on Saturday.
City were far too good in the opening 45 minutes as intertnational superstars Yukari Kinga and Tameka Butt sent Canberra tumbling to seventh on the W-League ladder.
Melbourne City’s Kyah Simon celebrates after scoring a goal during against Canberra United. Credit:AAP
United have collected just one point in four away games this summer but the dismal start in Melbourne was by far their worst half of the season.
Skipper Rachel Corsie and Ellie Carpenter were the only players in green holding her own as the midfield buckled under City's unrelenting pressure.
Canberra's opening day win against the champions felt like an eternity ago as strikers Rhali Dobson and Kyah Simon ran riot.
United improved in the second stanza but coach Heather Garriock admitted the game was all but lost by half-time.
"When you switch off and allow one of the best players in the world in Kinga to get on the ball that's what happens," Garriock said.
"All three goals we conceded were our own fault. Going into half-time at 2-0 you're still in the game but 3-0 and conceding in the 46th minute makes it very difficult to come back.
Denise O’Sullivan of United and Rhali Dobson of City. Credit:AAP
"In saying that we changed tactics completely and put Melbourne City under pressure and were desperate in our tackles. I was very pleased with the character and effort in the second half."
It was a disappointing finish for Irish import Denise O'Sullivan who had been sensational for Canberra leading into the final of her seven-game contract.
United winger Nikki Flannery won her starting spot back after spending two games on the bench but struggled to leave her mark on the game.
City opened the scoring after Yukari Kinga took a short corner and hit a sharp cross for an unmarked Dobson to head home on eight minutes.
A shocking Canberra clearance led to the second as Butt pounced on the mistake and hit a pinpoint cross for Simon who smoked a diving header into the bottom corner on 36 minutes.
Dobson secured her brace on the stroke of half-time with some individual brilliance as she dribbled from 30 metres before setting on the edge of the box and rocketing home.
It could have been worse for the visitors as Melbourne hit the crossbar on three occasions, while Canberra had very few shots inside the box.
"We need to improve in our final third and be patient and try to penetrate in behind and play to our strengths, there was no combination play today and we work on that a lot," Garriock said.
"We knew how big a game it was and knew three points were really important but we don't drop our heads, we have another game to bounce back at home."
It was United's first of three games in a tough 12-day stretch and they desperately need a victory against Brisbane Roar at McKellar Park on Thursday to stay in finals contention.
If they lose against Brisbane then Canberra will face an almost impossible task of collecting enough points in their final four games to make the play-offs.
Trio Paige Nielsen (shoulder), Rhoda Mulaudzi (calf) and Sham Khamis (knee) will all be assessed by the medical staff on Sunday.
AT A GLANCE:
Melbourne City 3 (Dobson 8, 45+2, Simon 36) bt Canberra United 0
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