The rematch of last season’s Grand Final looms large over Round 3 of the A-League Women, with Melbourne Victory hosting the Central Coast Mariners in their home opener.
Meanwhile, Melbourne City were successful in their first Asian Women’s Champions League fixture last night, with Holly McNamara scoring a brace.
Read about all the Matildas at Home in action below.
Asian Women's Champions League
Melbourne City 5 – 0 Lion City Sailors
On Thursday night, Melbourne City eased past the Singapore outfit Lion City Sailors 5-0 in their first AWCL game this season.
Holly McNamara scored a brace in the first half before being substituted off at half-time. Alexia Apostolakis and youngster Danella Butrus were the other goal scorers.
The result puts them at the top of Group A.
McNamara, Apostolakis and Leah Davidson all started for City, with all but Hughes being withdrawn and rested in the second half.
Stallion Laguna v Melbourne City
City will play their second game, against Philippines side Stallion Laguna, on Sunday, 7pm AEDT. Holly McNamara, Alexia Apostolakis, Leah Davidson and Laura Hughes will all look to reprise their roles to help City all but guarantee their path into the knockouts.
You can watch the game on YouTube.
A-League Women
Adelaide United v Canberra United
Date: Friday, 14 November
Venue: ServiceFM Stadium
Kickoff: 6.30pm local, 7pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10Play and Paramount+
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Both Adelaide United and Canberra United head into their Friday night clash looking for their first three points of the season.
The Reds were much better against Sydney FC last week but were unable to convert their set piece dominance into goals. They’ll be hoping that more minutes for star forwards Fiona Worts and Chelsie Dawber can help with their conversion rate this time out.
Canberra, meanwhile, have showed glimpses of their quality this season but are still yet to put together a complete performance. With Michelle Heyman leading the line, they’ll hope that they can get the job done in Adelaide.
Sydney FC v Perth Glory
Date: Saturday, 15 November
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Kickoff: 2.45pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10Play and Paramount+, and 10Drama
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Sydney FC take on Perth Glory as both sides look to establish their finals credentials early in the season.
Sydney yet to pick up a victory in two rounds this season and will feel like they have a fantastic opportunity to do just that on Saturday. Their transitional style will test the Glory, but they will need to prove they can score goals consistently this season, having not scored from open play in 180 minutes so far.
The Glory have not defeated Sydney FC in over five and a half years but, having broken one hoodoo – beating the Wanderers in Sydney in round one – they will have confidence they can break another.
Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners
Date: Saturday, 15 November
Venue: Home of the Matildas
Kickoff: 5pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10Play and Paramount+, and 10Drama
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Melbourne Victory will be out for some measure of revenge after last year’s Grand Final, taking on the Central Coast Mariners in Victory’s first home game of the season.
Victory suffered a shock defeat against the Roar in round one, but bounced back against the Wanderers last week. Still harbouring key injuries to players like Chelsea Blissett, Taylor Ray, Sienna Saveska and Nicki Flannery, the team in navy blue will hope American striker Kennedy White can continue her top form and pile on the goals.
The Mariners have suffered some level of whiplash in the last few weeks, with a comfortable home victory against Adelaide followed by a comprehensive defeat against City. The return of Isabel Gomez and Annabel Martin should go some way in helping to put last week behind them, and compete with Victory.
Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets
Date: Sunday, 16 November
Venue: Porirua Park
Kickoff: 4pm local, 2pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10Play and Paramount+
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The Wellington Phoenix will hope to show what the hype is all about when they take on the Newcastle Jets on Sunday.
The Phoenix had an up-and-down showing against Canberra in their first game of the season last week. The vision was clear, however, with players like Nepal international Sabitra Bhandari impressing. Phoenix fans will hope that they will put together a more polished performance in their second game and walk away with their first three points of the season.
The Jets have had a couple of weeks to reflect on their opening round victory, coming off last week’s bye. They will hope that the extra week will give them perfect preparation to travel to Wellington and pick up three points. Natasha Prior will be available for the Jets.
Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers
Date: Sunday, 16 November
Venue: Porirua Park
Kickoff: 3pm local, 4pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10Play and Paramount+
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Top-of-the-table Brisbane Roar will look to make it three wins from three when they take on the Western Sydney Wanderers at home to finish Round 3.
The Roar have been particularly impressive this season and have established themselves as early frontrunners. With three goals for Dutch national Bente Jansen, and all of Tameka Yallop, Sharn Freier and Grace Kuilamu on the scoresheet in the first two rounds, Roar fans will be hoping for more exciting attacking football on Sunday. Chloe Lincoln will be seeking her first clean sheet in Brisbane colours.
The Wanderers, meanwhile, are the only team still pointless this season. As always, they boast talented youngsters such as Allyssa Ng-Saad, Talia Younis and Nikkita Fazzari who are looking to make their mark on the competition. They’ll hope that their trip to Brisbane can help unlock some of that potential.
