CommBank Matildas Abroad Preview: Kerr, Arnold face NWSL play-offs

Sam Kerr and Mackenzie Arnold will take part in the first round of sudden death play-offs in the NWSL this weekend.

Read our preview of the CommBank Matildas Abroad in action below.

England

WSL

Chelsea host Everton on Saturday, 11.45pm AEDT. A win for Chelsea will see them remain top of the table, keeping pace with Manchester City, who play at the same time. Ellie Carpenter will be available for Chelsea, while Clare Wheeler will be available for Everton. Holly McNamara is unavailable due to injury and is expected back in December.

Manchester City take on West Ham on Saturday, 11.45pm AEDT. Mary Fowler will be available for the side currently neck-and-neck with Chelsea at the top of the table.

Arsenal travel to take on Liverpool on Sunday, 11pm AEDT. A win for Arsenal could see them rise as high as fourth, but they are still well off the pace for title – or even European – qualification. Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross will be available, with Steph Catley hoping to make her return from an injury that forced her off in their game against Aston Villa last weekend.

Charlton Athletic have the chance to earn their first points of the season when they take on Crystal Palace on Monday, 1.00am AEDT. Emily van Egmond and Leah Davidson will be available for Charlton, as two of the promoted teams from last season battle it out. 

Tottenham Hotspur host Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday, 1.00am AEDT. Both CommBank Matildas involved, Clare Hunt and Charlie Rule, will be unavailable due to injury.

London City Lionesses host Birmingham City on Monday, 1.30am AEDT. Alanna Kennedy will be hoping to make her return for their side, who are gunning to remain in third.

WSL2

Bristol City clash with Ipswich Town on Monday, 1.00am AEDT. Alexia Apostolakis will be available for Bristol against the so-far undefeated Ipswich.

Top-of-the-table Newcastle United take on Burnley on Monday, 1.00am AEDT. Kaitlyn Torpey will be available for Newcastle as they look to keep their place at the summit.

Finally, Nottingham Forest take on Wolverhampton Wanderers, also on Monday, 1.00am AEDT. Forest are also still undefeated but, with only two wins from their six games, will be hoping for all three points. Alana Murphy and Leticia McKenna will be available for Forest.

Sweden

Malmö FF take on Piteå on Saturday, 11.00pm AEDT. A point for Malmö will be enough to see them secure European football next season. Courtney Nevin and Amy Sayer will be available, while Charli Grant is unavailable due to injury.

FC Rosengård host Hammarby IF on Sunday, 12.00am AEDT. Any point they can get out of second-place Hammarby is a bonus as they hope to stay out of the relegation zone. They are currently one point clear with two games remaining. Remy Siemsen, Bryleeh Henry and Isabel Gomez will all be available for Rosengård.

Finally, Daniela Galic’s Vittsjö GIK take on IF Brommapojkarna on Monday, 1.00am AEDT.

United States

It’s playoff time and sudden death in the NWSL this weekend.

Gotham FC take on the Seattle Reign on Monday, 4.30am AEDT. Sam Kerr and her side will hope to take the first steps to adding a second trophy to the cabinet after securing the NWSL Shield last week.

The Portland Thorns, meanwhile, face an away fixture against the Washington Spirit on Monday, 7.00am AEDT. Mackenzie Arnold will be a key figure in goals as the Thorns hope to overcome home-ground advantage to advance in the playoffs.

Germany

Eintracht Frankfurt take on Wolfsburg on Saturday, 4.30am AEDT. Hayley Raso and Jamilla Rankin will be available in a big battle between themselves in third and Wolfsburg in second.

Italy

AS Roma take on Como 1907 on Saturday, 10.30pm AEDT. Winonah Heatley will be available for the league leaders Roma.

Como take on Parma on Sunday, 10.30pm AEDT. Alex Chidiac will be available as they could leapfrog their namesake, Como 1907, with a win.

Canada

Vancouver Rise will need to overturn a three-goal deficit when they play Montreal Roses in the second leg of the playoff on Monday, 8.00am AEDT. Tori Tumeth will be a big part of the team’s push, saying this week that they have nothing to lose in pursuit of victory.

Norway 

Vålerenga take on Aalesund on Saturday 11pm AEDT in the final game of the league season. Regardless of the result, they will finish fourth, outside of European qualification places. Hana Lowry will be available for Vålerenga.