Canberra heads to Adelaide aiming for two from two.
Sunday 21st September
Adelaide United v Canberra United
(Adelaide Shores Football Centre, 3pm)
Canberra United is on the road again in Round 2 of the Westfield W-League as they travel to Adelaide and the City of Churches to take on the Lady Reds. And Canberra are primed and ready to avoid a repetition of last season’s Adelaide ambush when the hosts stunned the visitors 2-0 in South Australia.
An opening weekend victory at Western Sydney Wanderers sent Canberra to the top of the fledgling Westfield W-League table courtesy of goal difference, and the team will be keen to record a second win in succession at the start of a campaign, something that they have only achieved twice before in the history of the competition.
Aside from last season’s aberration, Canberra generally has a fantastic record against the Lady Reds winning six and drawing one of the eight matches between the clubs heading into the weekend. Indeed, Canberra has scored an impressive twenty-two goals in their last seven matches with Adelaide, conceding just four in the entirety of the Westfield W-League against the South Australians.
Two of those of course came in the early January loss at Burton Park last season when Adelaide, under the watchful eye of Head Coach Ross Aloisi sprung one of the genuine WWL surprises in recent memory to claim the three points. It was part of a much-improved year for the Lady Reds who won three and drew four of their matches to finish in sixth spot.
Considering they had only recorded five wins in their history prior to Season Six then it’s a fair bet that supporters of the team enjoyed the success. Aloisi continued as the main man this season and his squad looks stronger and better organised than before. In their opening day 0-2 loss to Sydney FC they put together several promising patches of play and caused the Sky Blues plenty of problems throughout the ninety minutes.
Lisa-Marie Woods and Kristy Moore, both pivotal in the win over Canberra last season, continue to be the go-to players for Adelaide with veteran goalkeeper Melissa Beriberi between the posts. Danish midfielder Katrine Pedersen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Adelaide midfield with the 37-year-old having been capped a record 210 times by her native Denmark and will be one to watch for sure.
Canberra meanwhile will hope to welcome back Sally Rojahn into the fold with the defender nearing recovery from a knock sustained in pre-season. They will however still be without Grace Maher, attending international camp, with Meg McLaughlin, the ACT Women’s Premier League Golden Boot this term also likely to miss out.
SQUAD
1. Chantel JONES, 2. Catherine BROWN, 3. Julia DE ANGELIS, 5. Grace FIELD, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 9. Grace GILL, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJAHN, 13. Nicole BEGG, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 16. Lori LINDSEY, 17. Holly HOUSTON, 18. Rebecca KITING, 20. Melissa MAIZELS, 22. Stephanie OCHS
IN: 12. Sally ROJAHN
OUT: None
UNAVAILABLE: 4. Kendall FLETCHER (overseas), 8. Meg McLAUGHLIN (injured), 10. Grace MAHER (national team duty)
