Melbourne City will return to ctrl:cyber Pitch on Wednesday evening for another crucial clash against a crosstown rival.
Just four days after securing a hard-fought draw in Saturday’s Melbourne Derby, City will once again be in action, this time hosting Western United at Casey Fields.
Entry to Wednesday’s fixture is FREE! Simply click here to redeem your ticket via Ticketbooth.
With both teams battling for crucial points as we near the business end of the season, this midweek encounter promises to be another thrilling contest.
IS ROTATION NEEDED?
With a short turnaround between matches, Michael Matricciani may consider making changes to his starting XI to manage player workload.
One player pushing for a start is Rhianna Pollicina, who was instrumental off the bench in the Derby, providing the assist for Mariana Speckmaier’s late equaliser.
Her strong second-half performance could see her rewarded with a place in the starting lineup.
Other potential inclusions include Karly Roestbakken, Kathryn Harvey, and Shelby McMahon, who may be in contention for more minutes after limited involvement in recent weeks.
Additionally, Bryleeh Henry has been cleared to return after missing the last four weeks due to concussion, adding another versatile option for Matricciani to consider.
AN ELUSIVE WIN AGAIN UP FOR GRABS
Despite our strong form this season, we are still searching for its first-ever victory over Western United. Since Western entered the league, the two teams have met five times, with City suffering three defeats and managing two draws.
Our most recent encounter took place less than a month ago on January 17, where a highly controversial goal saw Kahli Johnson give Western United the lead just before half-time. However, Holly McNamara struck late in the second half to rescue a point for City.
Western United has built on that performance with an impressive run of form, recording two wins and a draw in their last three matches.
A victory on Wednesday would be crucial for their finals aspirations, as it would see them climb to fourth on the table. With so much at stake for both sides, this is shaping up to be another tense battle.
MATCHING A CLUB RECORD
Our City Women is on the brink of making history, as the team looks to equal our all-time Women’s unbeaten record.
The current 17-game streak began in Thailand during our inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League campaign and has continued throughout the Ninja A-League Women’s season.
This run has highlighted the team’s consistency and resilience, with strong performances coming across both competitions.
Avoiding defeat against Western United would see City match the 18-game unbeaten streak set by the Club’s inaugural Women’s team during our dominant invincibles debut season, which carried over into the first few games of the following campaign.
With a chance to cement their place in the record books, Matricciani’s squad will be determined to extend their impressive run.
FIXTURE DETAILS
Ninja A-League Women: Round 20
Melbourne City v Western United
Wednesday 5 February, 5:00pm KO
ctrl:cyber Pitch
