Things are heating up as we enter the final two weeks of the A-League Women’s season, Melbourne City after a big three points this Saturday against Central Coast.
City Football Academy is set to be buzzing for our final home match of the season as we aim to keep our Premiers Plate and top-two hopes alive.
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Here are a few of the major factors that will decide this one.
Stars to return to the XI?
After being without our Young Matildas through the last few weeks, our trio of young guns will return this weekend against the Mariners.
Daniela Galic, Naomi Chinnama and Tijan McKenna all made big contributions to help take the team to a third-placed finish at the U20 Asian Cup, and have all been included in our extended squad.
The only question will be whether any are ready to start after returning home from Uzbekistan on Monday and only having a few City training sessions under their belt.
Rhianna Pollicina has also been added to the squad after missing last week through a minor knock sustained in training.
Galic and Pollicina would appear to be the two most likely to slot straight into the XI, which would likely come in place of Shelby McMahon in the attacking midfield role.
That being said it would be a big call from Dario Vidosic after the 15-year-old put in a Player of the Match performance in her starting debut last weekend.
A genuine six-pointer
Just two games remain before Finals and it’s set to be a tense fight for spots with just six points separating first through sixth.
A month ago the Mariners may not have looked to be with us in the race for a top-two spot but after an impressive run of form, they now sit just a point behind.
Four wins in a row will fill Emily Husband’s team with plenty of confidence heading into this one, while we come in off the back of a mixed bag of form – winning, drawing and losing in our last three games.
The difference between winning and losing this week will be massive – three points could see us move up to first on the ladder should other results fall our way, while alternatively – a loss could see us slip to as low as fifth.
Making up for last time
We won’t have fond memories of our only meeting against the Mariners, having faced off in Gosford back in December.
While ultimately the points were shared, Vidosic would’ve been disappointed his team didn’t take more from the contest after holding the ball for two-thirds of the 90 minutes.
Despite controlling the contest we were only able to hit two shots on target, one being Captain Rebekah Stott’s brilliant strike from outside the box to make it 1-1 late in the contest.
Although with all that is on the line it likely will be a tense contest, City fans will be hoping to see plenty of creativity on the ball to break down a Mariners defence that has conceded just three times in their last five games.
Fixture Details
A-League Women: Round 21
Melbourne City FC v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 23 March, 4:00pm KO
City Football Academy
