Melbourne City FC will aim to continue its perfect start to Westfield W-League football against Melbourne Victory in the first Melbourne Derby of the season at AAMI Park on Sunday.
The Lowdown
The last time Melbourne City’s record breaking women’s team strode out onto AAMI Park, history was made.
A stirring 4-1 win over Sydney FC in last year’s Westfield W-League Grand Final was the crowning achievement during the Club’s historic first season in women’s football, as Joe Montemurro’s side claimed the Premiership and Championship double without losing a single match.
Now returning to the scene of that momentous occasion, City will aim to maintain its perfect start to life in the W-League against local rivals Melbourne Victory in the first Melbourne Derby of the new season.
A bye in Round 3 provided City with a welcome respite in what has been a testing start to the Club’s title defence. Two consecutive wins over title contenders Newcastle and Canberra United have been epitomised by a steely resolve in defence rather than attacking flair, yet it has proven enough to extend an astonishing W-League winning streak to 16 matches.
It is a hallmark of a champion team to find ways to grind out a result. But with a new-look City outfit still in the process of gelling together, captain Steph Catley believes it’s only a matter of time before everything clicks into place.
“Our main aim is to play better football than we did last year,” she said. “Hopefully that comes with wins and so far it has been a little bit tricky.”
“Our second game was better than our first and we’re slowly starting to get better and get to know each other better. I think by the time we get to round four or five, we will be ready to go.”
Standing in City’s way of another three points is a Melbourne Victory outfit determined to bounce back from consecutive league defeats.
Jeff Hopkins’ side are yet to taste success in the league this season, but boast one of the in-form players of the competition in English striker Natasha Dowie, who netted her third goal of the campaign in a 2-1 reverse to Sydney FC in Round 3.
As is so often the case in derby clashes, the form card goes out the window, and the scene is set for an electric start to Melbourne City’s first double header of the season.
Kids go free at AAMI Park!
Don’t miss our massive A-League and W-League double header! See our record breaking Women’s team do battle in the Melbourne Derby at 2.30pm, before our Men’s team take on Wellington Phoenix at 5pm.
Kids go free! Bring the family along to AAMI Park, where every adult ticket and adult membership can redeem two free junior tickets for Sunday’s exciting double header.
Click here to get your tickets for the match or sign up to our Five Match Membership below!
Match Details
Westfield W-League – Round 4
Sunday 27 November, 2016
Melbourne City FC vs Melbourne Victory
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 2:30pm
Gates open: 2pm
Melbourne City FC: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS (GK), 2 Teigen ALLEN, 5. Laura ALLEWAY, 6. Aivi LUIK, 7. Steph CATLEY (c), 10. Jessica FISHLOCK, 11, Erika TYMRAK, 12. Olivia ELLIS, 13. Rebekah STOTT, 14, Melina AYRES, 15. Amy JACKSON, 17, Marianna TABAIN, 18, Jacynta GALABADAARACHCHI, 19. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC, 22. Hayley RICHMOND, 30. Kelsey QUINN (GK)
Ins: 15. Amy JACKSON, 22. Hayley RICHMOND
Outs: 3. Lauren BARNES (wrist – 1 week), 4. Rachel BINNING
Unavailable: 9. Larissa Crummer (ankle)
