Melbourne City have kept their title defence alive with a confident 4-0 win over Newcastle to leave the three-time W-League champions clinging to an outside chance of reaching the finals after a poor run of form.
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Yukari Kinga, Steph Catley and new signing Hailie Mace were on the scoresheet as City eased to victory at CB Smith Reserve in Melbourne, effectively ending the Jets' campaign in the process.
On the back of two defeats and against a Newcastle side, lifted by an upset win over Perth, City's all-star line-up struggled for a foothold until the Jets needlessly gifted the home side the opener.
Cassidy Davis bundled over Tameka Butt in the penalty area, allowing Kinga to confidently fire home the spot-kick just past the half-hour mark.
City defender Rebekah Stott hit the crossbar just seconds later, before Catley headed home unchallenged as the home side made it two goals in six minutes.
A desperate Newcastle side threw defender Larissa Crummer into the forward line and the move paid almost immediate dividends as her pass set up Arin Wright only for the American's strike to be ruled out for a marginal offside.
City lined up with nine internationals and new American international signing Mace started on the bench before taking the field for the final half-hour.
City extended their lead within seconds of their new forward's introduction, as Kinga swooped on a loose ball to score her second, before Mace found the net 11 minutes into her W-League debut.
City sit fifth equal on points with the fourth-placed Glory but the Melbourne outfit, who have played one more game than their rivals, must win their remaining match against in-form Sydney FC and hope other results go their way.
The Jets, who only narrowly missed winning through to last season's grand final, only have the slimmest mathematical hope of reaching the semi-finals.
Australian Associated Press
