Teenager Daniela Galic has announced herself as a potential future Matilda with a first-half hat-trick in Melbourne City's 5-0 A-League Women thrashing of Adelaide United.
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And the pressure at Melbourne Victory is set to intensify after the club sunk to their third straight loss in a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Western United.
Galic scored in the 15th, 27th and 34th minutes at the Mars Sports Centre on Saturday to crush Adelaide's spirits.
The 17-year-old also provided the assist for Kaitlyn Torpey's 30th-minute strike, meaning she played a part in four goals in the space of 19 magical minutes.
The result increased Melbourne City's lead at the top of the table to six points, although it will be cut back to three if Perth Glory beat Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday.
Galic is already part of the Young Matildas set-up, and her performance on Saturday showcased her potential for senior glory.
The speedy midfielder started the rout by getting past an opponent in the box before curling in a neat finish across Reds goalkeeper Annalee Grove.
Her second goal, in the 27th minute, was a simple tap-in following a great run and pass from Torpey.
Galic returned the favour three minutes later with a cross that allowed Torpey an easy tap-in of her own at the far post.
The youngster's hat-trick was complete in the 34th minute when a running Galic received the ball on the edge of the box before firing past the charging Grove.
Adelaide were far more solid after the break, but the 5-0 rout was complete when Hannah Wilkinson unleashed a curling strike in the 83rd minute.
Making City's performance all the more remarkable was the fact Emina Ekic - who scored a hat-trick in last week's 5-3 win over Brisbane Roar - wasn't introduced until the 79th minute after picking up a knock at training.
Western United rose to third on the ladder following a dominant performance against Victory, who have slid to sixth amidst a worrying form slump.
Keiwa Hieda opened the scoring for United in the 32nd minute and Adriana Taranto added a a second two minutes later.
Alarm bells were ringing for Victory when Chloe Logarzo nailed a 60th-minute penalty before making it 4-0 nine minutes later with a well-timed volley.
Victory grabbed a consolation through Rachel Lowe on 78 minutes.
In Newcastle, a 30-yard wonder strike from Sarah Clark six minutes from time helped last-placed Canberra secure a 3-3 draw against the Jets.
Sarina Bolden's 15th-minute strike had given the home side the lead, but Canberra went into the halftime break leading 2-1 courtesy of goals from Nickoletta Flannery and Deven Jackson.
Lara Gooch and MelindaJ Barbieri fired the Jets into a 3-2 lead midway through the second half before Flannery's long-range right-foot rocket as fulltime approached earned her side a share of the spoils.
Australian Associated Press
