Football
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Melbourne City smash Western Sydney Wanderers to book Grand Final spot

Melbourne City have scored a thumping record-equalling 5-1 win over Western Sydney to set-up a heavyweight W-League Grand Final meeting with Sydney FC.

Kyah Simon bagged a double, with Claire Emslie and Rebekah Stott also on the scoresheet, while Wanderers defender Courtney Nevin added an own-goal in a one-sided contest on Sunday afternoon at ABD Stadium in Melbourne.

The scoreline matched the finals' record, set in 2011 by Sydney FC, with City also reaching a record-equalling 12-consecutive wins.

City's six Matildas' representatives displayed few signs of fatigue after their midweek trip to Vietnam, as they raced to a three-goal half-time advantage against an outplayed Wanderers in their long-awaited semifinal debut.

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It could have been much worse for the Wanderers as City created a catalogue of openings, with Simon missing an open goal, while Ellie Carpenter and Aivi Luik both hit shots against the woodwork.

City full-back Carpenter cut swathes through the opposition in the first half and set up a tap-in for Emslie after just 13 minutes. The Scottish forward turned provider with a perfect cross, easily headed home by Simon.

The contest was virtually over a few minutes before the break as Stott fired home a loose ball after Wanderers goalkeeper Abby Smith failed to deal with a cross.

The Wanderers came out with renewed zest after half-time and Cortnee Vine duly pulled a goal back almost immediately, as City conceded for only the fifth time in 13 matches.

Simon restored the three-goal advantage within a matter of minutes, and Nevin turned in an own-goal to rub salt into the wounds of the outclassed Wanderers.

"We executed our game plan perfectly which is always nice leading into a Grand Final," said Simon. "There are areas of our game that we can tidy up a little bit more so that we make sure we play our best game next week."

The winner of next weekend's Grand Final will move clear as the W-League's most successful club, with City and Sydney FC having each taken out three championships.

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