Match Preview: Canberra v City

Melbourne City will be looking to mark its final away fixture of 2022 with a win when it takes on Canberra United tomorrow evening.

It will be the first time Canberra host a fixture at Seiffert Oval in three years and City will be looking to return home with all three points as it did when the team’s last met in Australia’s capital city.

Played at Viking Park on that day, Holly McNamara – who is currently tracking well in her rehab from an ACL injury – scored a fantastic late winner in what was her debut professional appearance.

She won’t be out there this Friday though, but the likes of Cote Rojas, Bryleeh Henry and Emina Ekic have well and truly filled the attacking void so far this season.

That trio has combined for nine goals already and are proving difficult to handle for opposition defences across the league.

They’ll have to be at the top of their game this Friday if City are to walk away with the points, especially given Canberra will be fired up after also suffering their first loss of the season last time out.

Goals to Nicki Flannery and Vesna Milivojevic had Canberra looking comfortable with a 2-0 lead, before Perth Glory came home with a wet sail to steal all three points.

Head Coach Dario Vidosic would’ve gone over that contest with a fine-tooth comb given it was a clash between City’s next two opponents.

He’s stuck with an unchanged line-up all season long but could be tempted to shuffle the decks a little given the short turnaround between fixtures.

This could mean a Chelsea Blissett or Leticia McKenna might be set for a first start of the season, but he’s set to without captain Emma Checker for another match as she misses through illness again.

City has enjoyed a good run of form against Canberra in recent years, having won four of the last five meetings between the two teams.