Matildas at Home Preview: Spots in the final up for grabs

2 min read 26 April 2024

The second leg of the A-League Women semi-finals take place this weekend as Sydney FC and Melbourne City look to hold onto their aggregate leads and qualify for the final.

Read our preview of the Matildas at Home action below.

Sydney FC take on Central Coast Mariners at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday, 3pm AEST. Sydney go into the tie with a 1-0 lead thanks to Mackenzie Hawkesby’s goal in the first leg and will be hoping to use that advantage to help them into the final.

The Mariners, with striker Kyah Simon, will certainly feel like they can overcome the slim deficit. Jada Whyman was named player of the match in the first leg for her performance in goals and if the visitors can generate the same number of chances this time around, the CommBank Matildas goalkeeper will have to have another fantastic outing to keep a clean sheet.

Mackennzie Hawkesby of Sydney FC celebrates a goal during the A-League Women Semi Final match between Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC at Industree Group Stadium, on April 21, 2024, in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images) — Mackenzie Hawkesby of Sydney FC celebrates a goal during the A-League Women Semi Final match between Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC at Industree Group Stadium, on April 21, 2024, in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)

Not that Sydney won’t have chances of their own. Cortnee Vine looked incredibly dangerous in the first leg every time she had an opportunity to run at the Mariners' defence and will hope to do the same this time around.

You can buy tickets here for the game, or watch live and free on 10Play, or on Paramount+.

The Newcastle Jets have a ‘mission impossible’ on their hands as they travel to Aami Park in Melbourne to take on Melbourne City on Sunday, 1pm AEST.

If the Jets are to qualify for the final, they will have to overcome a three-goal deficit. It will be an incredibly challenging task against the premiers but with the likes of Sarina Bolden and Melina Ayres in their side, you can never count them out.

Emina Ekic of Melbourne City celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the A-League Women Semi Final match between Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City at Maitland Regional Sports Ground on April 21, 2024 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

However, it is unlikely that City will merely sit back and let the Jets attack. Daniela Galic will be hoping to add to her goal in the first leg and help her side qualify for their first final since they won their last championship in 2020.

Buy your tickets here for the game - or watch live and free on 10Play, or on Paramount+.