A huge weekend of football is on the horizon for both of our A-Leagues squads as Melbourne City’s Men’s and Women’s teams prepare for two high-stakes fixtures.
Following last weekend’s scoreless draw with Adelaide, Aurelio Vidmar’s Men’s side enters the final round of the A-League Men’s season knowing exactly what’s at stake.
A win over Sydney FC at AAMI Park would secure second spot, ensuring direct qualification to the Semi-Finals and a return to AFC Champions League Elite football.
City will be bolstered by the return of experienced attacker Mathew Leckie, who has been cleared to return to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in his substitute cameo against Brisbane Roar.
Harry Politidis has also been promoted to the extended squad, while Steven Ugarkovic (hamstring) and Samuel Souprayen (calf) remain sidelined but will be in the mix to return come Finals.
Meanwhile, our City Women are set to begin their Finals campaign on the road in Gosford this Saturday afternoon.
After going undefeated through the regular season to claim a second consecutive Premiers Plate, Michael Matricciani’s squad will now face Central Coast Mariners in a two-legged Semi-Final, with the return leg to be played in Melbourne next weekend.
City will take a settled and confident group to Industree Group Stadium for Saturday’s first leg, with Kathryn Harvey, Kiera Meyers and Caitlin Karic all promoted to the extended squad.
Matricciani has the luxury of naming an otherwise unchanged line-up, with only Mariana Speckmaier unavailable, although the Venezuelan international will push for a return in next weekend’s home leg.
ALW Semi-Final Leg 1 Squad
5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 7. Kathryn HARVEY, 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 9. Holly McNAMARA, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 11. Emilia MURRAY, 12. Shelby McMAHON, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 14. Laura HUGHES, 15. Kiera MEYERS, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 19. Lourdes BOSCH, 20. Caitlin KARIC, 22. Bryleeh HENRY, 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 24. Malena MIERES (GK), 27. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC.
In: 7. Kathryn HARVEY, 15. Kiera MEYERS, 20. Caitlin KARIC (all promoted).
Out: Nil.
Unavailable: 17. Mariana SPECKMAIER (ankle).
Round 29 ALM Squad
2. Callum TALBOT, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 10. Yonatan COHEN, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 17. Max CAPUTO, 18. Dakota OCHSENHAM (GK), 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 21. Alessandro LOPANE, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 23. Marco TILIO, 27. Kai TREWIN, 30. Andreas KUEN, 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 35. Medin MEMETI, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 41. Lawrence WONG, 47. Kavian RAHMANI.
In: 7. Mathew LECKIE (returns from injury), 38. Harry POLITIDIS (promoted).
Out: Nil.
Unavailable: 6. Steven UGARKOVIC (hamstring), 8. Jimmy JEGGO (achilles), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (knee), 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN (calf), 34. Jayden NECOVSKI (knee), 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (knee).
