Melbourne Victory Women take on Melbourne City in a top-of-the-table clash at ctrl.cyber Pitch on Saturday, February 1.
Victory have their sights set on leapfrogging City to claim the top spot in the Ninja A-League ladder in what is set to be a thrilling Melbourne Derby.
Melbourne Victory:
Enjoying a three-game winning streak, Victory will put to the test against City on Saturday.
Victory come into the game straight off an impressive 2-0 win in their U-NITE round clash against Sydney FC; thanks to a stunning Alana Janceski free kick early in the game and a goal on debut from Holly Furphy to help secure all three points.
The result also represented a third-straight clean sheet for Victory, currently leading the league for total clean sheets with six.
Despite losing depth in fullback areas, notably with the retirement of Beattie Goad, youngsters Alana Jancevski and Laura Pickett have stepped up exceptionally well on both flanks for Jeff Hopkins’ side – helping support the trusty central defensive pairing of Claudia Bunge and captain Kayla Morrison.
A win in the Melbourne Derby would ultimately see Victory jump ahead of City to go top of the league by a point – a big goal for the side who narrowly fell short to City earlier this season at AAMI Park.
Round 14 Squad:
3. Claudia BUNGE, 4. Sara D’APPOLONIA, 5. Sofia SAKALIS, 7. Ella O’GRADY, 8. Alana MURPHY, 9. Holly FURPHY, 10. Alex CHIDIAC, 11. Nicki FLANNERY, 15. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Kayla MORRISON, 22. Ava BRIEDIS, 23. Rachel LOWE, 24. Laura PICKETT, 27. Rosie CURTIS, 41. Jessica YOUNG, 50. Courtney NEWBON, 62. Geo CANDY, 66. Alana JANCEVSKI
Ins: 9. Holly FURPHY, 22. Ava BRIEDIS
Outs: 26. Poppy O’KEEFE
Melbourne City:
The only team still undefeated in the league, Melbourne City have started the 2024/25 season exceptionally well.
Under new head coach Michael Matricciani, City have recorded the tied most wins in the league alongside Victory with eight.
While Victory’s defensive solidity has been a key strength this season, City have been a side who have not struggled to find the back of the net; recording 27 goals so far (second most in the league).
22-year-old forward Holly McNamara has been key for the Citizens in recent weeks, scoring two crucial goals in her last two games as she returns from an ACL injury suffered last season.
