Melbourne Victory Women host Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 19 of the Ninja A-League on Saturday, March 14, kick-off 6pm AEDT.
Jeff Hopkins’ side will step out at The Home of The Matildas for the final time in the 2025/26 regular season this weekend on an occasion – Female Football Round – that will celebrate the women shaping football.
Victory are going hard for three points as they look to put one foot in Finals football with just three matches of their schedule remaining.
They drew 1-1 last time out against Wellington Phoenix, whilst Western Sydney suffered a 3-0 defeat to second-placed Canberra United.
The Girls in Blue
Having played a game more than seventh and eighth placed Central Coast Mariners and Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory know that a Round 19 maximum will likely be critical if they are to make the top-six.
The three teams, all searching for consistent form, are level on 22 points as the Ninja A-League returns from its pause to accommodate the beginning of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup hosted in Australia.
Victory edged their way into sixth spot before the break, thanks to the draw they recorded versus Premier’s Plate chasing Wellington Phoenix at The Home of The Matildas. Although a late equaliser, cancelling out Rhianna Pollicina’s opener from the penalty spot, left a sense of what might have been for the hosts.
Fortunately, the Girls in Blue have the chance to put that right and go one better on their own patch this weekend against an opponent they thumped in November’s Round 2 clash.
American striker Kennedy White fired in a hat-trick that day, and she will be looking to hit double figures before the campaign concludes, currently boasting eight goals from her first ALW term.
Round 19 Squad: 1. Courtney NEWBON, 3. Claudia BUNGE, 4. Chelsea BLISSETT, 5. Sofia SAKALIS, 6. Taylor RAY, 7. Ella O’GRADY, 9. Holly FURPHY, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 16. Kennedy WHITE, 17. Poppy O’KEEFFE, 18. Kayla MORRISON, 23. Rachel LOWE, 24. Laura PICKETT, 27. Rosie CURTIS, 28. Sienna TECHERA, 30. Payton WOODWARD, 41. Jessica YOUNG, 66. Alana JANCEVSKI, 81. Grace MAHER
Ins: 17. Poppy O’KEEFFE (selection)
Outs: 8. Sienna SAVESKA (injured), 14. Fiorina Iaria (omitted), 20. Leyla HUSSEIN (omitted)
Unavailable: 11. Nicki FLANNERY (injured), 19. Zoe MCMEEKEN (injured)
The Wanderers
Despite being four places and six points off the pace for Finals, with an irreparable -15 goal difference, 10th-place Western Sydney Wanderers cannot afford to throw in the towel.
Right now, it is a straight shootout between them and their city rivals, Sydney FC, for the wooden spoon, a fate they will be desperate to avoid happening two years in a row. On a more positive note, Geoff Abrahams’ team have already equalled their 2024/25 points tally.
This is largely down to a three-match winning run they put together during the summer, when they were victorious in a hat-trick of away matches.
Wins at Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City were split by a memorable Sydney Derby success, triumphing 2-3 at Allianz Stadium, with Chinese striker and joint-top scorer Yuan Cong scoring the winner.
Run it back
Melbourne Victory proved too much to handle for Western Sydney Wanderers in November’s meeting at Wanderers Football Park.
Kennedy White’s impressive treble, putting Victory 1-3 ahead shortly after half-time, emphatically wiped out Danika Matos close-range finish, which had given the hosts an early lead in New South Wales.
New Zealand defender Zoe McMeeken was on hand to complete the scoring seven minutes from time, nodding in a rebound to a White effort that had hit the crossbar.
Last time out
Melbourne Victory had to settle for a second-straight home draw as they conceded a late Wellington Phoenix equaliser.
Jeff Hopkins’ team took the game to the Phoenix, and the only way Sofia Sakalis could be stopped inside the penalty area was by illegal means, with Rhianna Pollicina converting from the spot early in the second half.
However, three minutes from time, Victory’s narrow lead would be wiped out when Makala Woods squeezed in an equaliser.
Three Canberra United goals without reply consigned Western Sydney Wanderers to a second defeat in three matches.
Josie Aulicino’s second and third goals of the season, one off either foot, put the hosts into a commanding position midway through the second half.
The damage was completed 15 minutes from time when Michelle Heyman was the quickest to react from a corner, scoring from close range.
