The nation’s capital will welcome the Westfield W-League this Australia Day with Perth Glory visiting Canberra United. The Glory will be out to keep their finals hopes alive, but Canberra will take plenty of positives into this game following their impressive win over Adelaide United last week.
The nation-s capital will welcome the Westfield W-League this Australia Day with Perth Glory visiting Canberra United. The Glory will be out to keep their finals hopes alive, but Canberra will take plenty of positives into this game following their impressive win over Adelaide United last week.
Canberra looked comfortable against Adelaide following their return to the friendly confines of McKellar Park, with goals from Michelle Heyman, Stephanie Ochs and Ashleigh Sykes powering the team to a 3-0 win. Canberra dominated for large parts of the contest, with their attacking play, often too much for the Adelaide defense to handle. Only a superb game from Melissa Barbieri in goal for Adelaide prevented Canberra from adding to their eventual margin of victory.
Meanwhile, the Glory kept their slim finals hopes alive with a fighting victory over the winless Newcastle Jets last week in Perth. Despite going 2-0 down midway through the first half, Glory battled back to 2-2 at halftime, with Marianna Tabain scoring in the second half to secure a priceless 3-2 win.
This week-s game against Perth starts a run of three home matches within seven days for Canberra, with Sydney FC (29th January) and Newcastle Jets (1st February) to quickly follow. The results from this period will be crucial as Canberra looking to embark on a winning streak that will cement their place in the top four.
Canberra will again be without star midfielder Sally Shipard. Lydia Williams and Sally Rojahn, who both put in fine performances against Adelaide, are also unavailable.
Canberra boast an impressive home record over the Glory, having won all of their meetings with Perth in Canberra, and whilst high-scoring draws are often the result when the teams meet in the West, Canberra will be buoyed by their 2-0 win in Perth earlier this season.
Another home win here would give Canberra huge momentum heading into this week-s block of matches as they push towards the finals. Here-s hoping for a big crowd draped in green (and gold!) this Sunday to celebrate Australia Day with three points against the Glory.
CANBERRA UNITED SQUAD
2. Catherine BROWN, 3. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 4. Kendall FLETCHER, 5. Grace FIELD, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 8. Meg McLAUGHLIN, 9. Grace GILL, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 13. Nicole SYKES, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 16. Lori LINDSEY, 17. Holly HOUSTON, 20. Trudy BURKE, 22. Stephanie OCHS, 30. Jocelyn MARA
In: 5. Grace FIELD, 17. Holly HOUSTON, 30. Jocelyn MARA
Out: 12. Sally ROJAHN, 19. Jennifer BISSET
Unavailable: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS
LAST TIME OUT
Saturday 21st December 2013
Perth Glory 0 Canberra United 2 (Ashleigh Sykes 51-, Stephanie Ochs 92-)
COMPLETE RECORD
30/11/08: Perth Glory 2 Canberra United 2
17/10/09: Perth Glory 2 Canberra United 2
14/11/09: Canberra United 4 Perth Glory 0
07/11/10: Perth Glory 1 Canberra United 4
29/01/11: Canberra United 1 Perth Glory 0
29/10/11: Canberra United 3 Perth Glory 2
05/12/12: Canberra United 2 Perth Glory 1
22/12/12: Perth Glory 3 Canberra United 3
21/12/13: Perth Glory 0 Canberra United 2
OVERALL: Played 9, Won 6, Drawn 3, Lost 0
HOME: Played 4, Won 4, Drawn 0, Lost 0
AWAY: Played 5, Won 2, Drawn 3, Lost 0
