It’s make-or-break time for Melbourne City this Sunday afternoon as we host Central Coast Mariners for a place in the 2025 Ninja A-League Grand Final.
We’re already 90 minutes into the two-legged Semi-Final, but the tie remains deadlocked after a see-sawing first leg in Gosford.
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Both teams held the lead at different stages with Leticia McKenna and Bryleeh Henry on the scoresheet from a City perspective, but ultimately, the first leg ended with the scoreboard reading 2-2 heading into this weekend’s decisive second leg at the ctrl:cyber Pitch.
While Head Coach Michael Matricciani would’ve loved to return to Melbourne with a scoreboard advantage, he’ll be boosted by the return of two key attacking players.
Both Mariana Speckmaier and Lourdes Bosch have been added to the extended squad after missing the first leg due to injury.
Speckmaier is in line for her first appearance since March after recovering from an ankle injury that kept her out for six weeks, while Bosch returns after being missing the Gosford trip with soreness.
Holly McNamara is also pushing for a return to the starting XI after being used as an impact substitute last week following a minor niggle in the lead-up to the first leg.
With no confirmed omissions from last week’s squad, City will head into Sunday’s blockbuster with strong depth and confidence in what’s set to be a massive 90 minutes of football in front of our home crowd.
ALW Semi-Final Second Leg 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, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 17. Mariana SPECKMAIER, 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: 17. Mariana SPECKMAIER, 19. Lourdes BOSCH (both return from injury).
Out: Nil.
Unavailable: Nil.
