Melbourne City FC will hope to continue its winning run of form when the team takes on Adelaide United in the Liberty A-League on Saturday evening.
Rado Vidosic’s side began its three-game winning streak against the Reds back in Round 3 and will hope for a repeat of that positive result when the teams face off once again.
Last Sunday, City made it four wins from five to open their 2021/22 campaign, putting on a clinical performance against Wellington Phoenix at home.
The visiting side were valiant in their first-half display and arguably had the better start to the encounter but were brought undone by a sizzling Kaitlyn Torpey volley in the 29th minute following a headed clearance from the City corner.
This swung momentum back in the home side’s favour, with Hannah Wilkinson and Winonah Heatley piling on the goals before half-time.
The Phoenix held out again in the second half, but Emma Checker sealed the result in the 78th minute, capitalising on a spillage following the corner to find the back of the net.
The win saw City move into outright second with 12 points and, following nine goals scored in two games, the team will be high on confidence as they prepare to face Adelaide.
The Reds have bounced back from their Round 3 defeat at the hands of City to enjoy a similarly high-scoring past two games, putting a combined seven goals past Perth Glory and Canberra United.
Adelaide’s last result was a 3-1 win against the latter in which the Reds were clinical in front of goal, netting three times from a total of just six shots for the game.
Rado Vidosic will need to contend with the absences of Winonah Heatley and Holly McNamara for this clash, with the pair having travelled with the Matildas extended squad this week ahead of the Asian Cup.
When the teams previously met in Round 3, it was a Rhianna Pollicina screamer that put City ahead in the first half, with the midfielder finding the head of Hannah Wilkinson soon after to establish a 2-0 lead.
Adelaide hit back through Chelsea Dawber after City failed to deal with a Reds corner, but Wilkinson returned in stoppage time to seal the deal for City as she tapped in a dangerous cross from the right from Leticia McKenna.
That fixture marked Wilkinson’s first (and second) goal of the campaign, but the Kiwi has since run rampant up front for City, netting a total of eight goals in her past three games.
Match Details
Liberty A-League: Round 7
Adelaide United v Melbourne City FC
Saturday 15 January December, kick-off 5:05pm
Coopers Stadium
