Unite Round in the Liberty A-League is upon us! Ahead of the action getting underway in Sydney, aleagues.com.au takes a closer look at all six matches…
A-Leagues’ Unite Round is THIS WEEKEND in Sydney: Here’s everything you need to know
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Friday, 5:00pm (AEDT): Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory
Two sides looking to get back to winning ways kick off Unite Round as Melbourne Victory meet Perth Glory at Leichhardt Oval.
After going unbeaten in six straight games, Victory have lost their last three matches, with the most recent coming at the hands of cross-town rivals Western United, who defeated Jeff Hopkins’ side 4-1 last weekend.
Victory, as a result, have dropped out of the top six, sitting behind Western Sydney Wanderers on goal difference heading into the weekend.
A fourth consecutive defeat in the competition will be their longest losing streak since December 2016 – where they suffered a loss against Perth Glory to drop a fourth successive game.
Their opponents, Perth, were the side the Wanderers beat last weekend to leapfrog Victory in the standings, as Alex Epakis’ side fell to a second loss in three outings.
Perth have come crashing down to earth since their four-game winning streak to begin the season, winning only twice in the last seven matches. They also go into the contest having only won one of their last seven games against Victory (D2 L4) with each of the last two meetings between these teams ending in a draw on the day.
However, none of the sides around them have been able to really make the most of Glory’s dip in form, as they remain in second place on the standings heading into Round 12.
One of their bright sparks as of late, Millie Farrow, has scored each of Perth Glory’s last six goals.
The two sides have already played each other once this season, with the match ending in a thrilling 2-2 draw after Hana Lowry scored a 96th-minute equaliser, to cancel out Rachel Lowe’s second-half brace.
Opta stat: This will be Perth Glory’s 200th game played in the Liberty A-League and their 28th against Melbourne Victory – their joint-most against any team; the Glory have won 82 of their 199 games in the competition thus far (D29, L88).
Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory
Friday, January 12 2024
Leichhardt Oval
Kick-off: 5pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: 10Play & Paramount+
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Friday, 7:45pm (AEDT): Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners
Friday night action continues in Leichhardt when Wellington Phoenix face Central Coast Mariners.
The Phoenix come into the contest fresh off back-to-back defeats on the road, including a controversial 2-1 loss to Brisbane Roar last weekend, where they were denied a penalty in the dying minutes.
However, despite the recent dip in form, Paul Temple’s side still remain inside the top six, but fell to fourth on the ladder behind Western United.
Star keeper Rylee Foster has recently suffered a dip in form, including two mistakes in their losses to Adelaide United and Brisbane in recent weeks.
Temple backed the Canadian – who defied the odds to return to football with Wellington after recovering from life-threatening injuries – to return to form in the weeks ahead.
“Goalkeeper is that really tough position where if they make a mistake it usually leads to something catastrophic, like a goal that you shouldn’t concede,” Temple said on Thursday.
“It’s high stakes for goalkeepers and you need to be mentally tough and mentally strong in that situation and I think Rylee’s mentality is fantastic.
“We talked a lot about her character earlier in the season and what she’s been through and how tough mentally she is, so these mistakes aren’t going to affect Rylee.
“She’s been through a lot worse than making mistakes on a football pitch.
“She’s got perspective. We’ve had some good discussions this week about why those things are creeping in and what we can do to solve them. Hopefully it’s just a little bump in the road for her as she strives to reach her best form.”
Their opponents Central Coast have already beaten Wellington once this season, winning their first home game of the campaign, thanks to a late goal from Annalise Rasmussen.
The Mariners currently sit in 10th place in the standings after consecutive games without a win, but held the reigning champions Sydney FC to a gutsy 0-0 draw at home last weekend.
Opta stat: Central Coast Mariners (49) and Wellington Phoenix (49) are both one away from reaching 50 goals scored in the Liberty A-League; indeed, they are the only teams yet to reach this milestone in the history of the competition.
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners
Friday, January 12 2024
Leichhardt Oval
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: 10Play & Paramount+
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Saturday, 5pm (AEDT): Canberra United v Adelaide United
Is this the week Michelle Heyman achieves history?
Heyman is one goal away from becoming the first player in Liberty A-League history – and fourth in A-Leagues history – to score 100 league goals.
After not reaching the milestone in her last game against Newcastle Jets last week, Heyman’s next opportunity comes this Saturday in Leichhardt, when Canberra United face Adelaide United.
The A-Leagues legend was on the scoresheet the last time these two teams met in Round 1 and scored four goals in two games against the Reds last season, including a hat-trick in a 4-2 win at McKellar Park last March.
Canberra currently sit bottom of the ladder, but have recorded draws in each of their last three matches, showcasing a minor uptick in performances in recent weeks.
The Reds, meanwhile, sit only a point clear of the side from the capital and come into the contest fresh off being on the end of a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Melbourne City.
It’s been a difficult campaign for Adrian Stenta’s Reds, who enter the contest with the league’s worst defensive record (26 goals conceded) and the third-worst attacking record (13 goals scored).
In fact, four of their 13 goals scored came in the last meeting against Canberra at Coopers Stadium, which ended in a thrilling 4-4 draw after Emilia Murray scored a 94th-minute equaliser for the Reds.
Opta stat: Canberra United have given 5,798 minutes of game time to players aged 21 years and under this Liberty A-League season – 1,974 more than any other team in the competition; they have scored 10 goals via those players, the second most of any team (Melbourne City – 11).
Canberra United v Adelaide United
Saturday, January 13 2024
Leichhardt Oval
Kick-off: 5pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: 10Play & Paramount+
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Saturday, 7:45pm (AEDT): Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets
Brisbane Roar finally returned to the winner’s list last weekend, and will be looking to carry their momentum into Unite Round when they take on Newcastle Jets on Saturday night.
Roar came from behind to defeat Wellington Phoenix at Perry Park on Sunday, ending an over two-month wait for a win and thrusting them back into the conversation for a top six spot.
Brisbane had been much improved in the weeks leading up to the game despite not getting the results, claiming a 1-1 draw against Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers, along with a gutsy performance in their 5-3 loss to Melbourne City.
Incredibly, Brisbane are undefeated in their last eight games against the Jets (W7 D1) including wins in each of their last five meetings; the Roar’s last defeat to the Jets in the competition came in December 2017.
Newcastle, on the other hand, missed a golden opportunity to jump into the top six last weekend, surrendering a late advantage in their 3-3 draw with Canberra United.
The Jets’ form has been up and down over the last five weeks, winning two games, drawing once and losing twice, with this inconsistency ultimately separating them from a spot among the competition’s pacesetters.
Their recent turn around in form has been helped by the red-hot Sarina Bolden, who has five goals and two assists in her six games since arriving at Newcastle.
Opta stat: Newcastle Jets have registered a win and a draw across their last two games; the last time they earned competition points from more consecutive games was a five-game stretch from December 2021 to January 2022 (W2 D3).
Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets
Saturday, January 13 2024
Leichhardt Oval
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: 10Play & Paramount+
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Sunday, 5pm (AEDT): Western United v Sydney FC
Sydney FC and Western United will lock horns for the first time since last season’s Grand Final, when they face off at Allianz Stadium on Sunday evening.
Only a point separates the two teams on the ladder, with the Sky Blues sitting in fifth and the visitors in third after 11 rounds, but the former still have a game in hand on their opponents.
Sydney were held to a 0-0 draw with Central Coast Mariners on the weekend – their second draw in quick succession – but Ante Juric’s side are also unbeaten in their last six games.
The glaring issue for Sydney has been their lack of goals during this period, only scoring four goals. Compounding those issues has been injuries to Fiona Worts, Shea Connors and Cortnee Vine, who have all missed varying amounts of time during this stretch.
However, Sydney have only conceded two goals of their own, showcasing how well their defence has bounced back since Nat Tobin went down with injury.
Meanwhile, Western leapt into third on the standings as a result of their 4-1 win over Melbourne Victory, but are still looking for consecutive wins for the first time this season.
Chloe Logarzo – who didn’t feature in the Grand Final and Semi Final clashes against her former side Sydney last season – has been in red-hot form in recent weeks, scoring five goals and helping herself to an assist this season, including a brace against Victory.
In a major boost, Western should regain Hannah Keane for the clash after the Golden Boot winner missed the Victory clash through injury.
Opta stat: Western United and Sydney FC have alternated wins (with clean sheets) in their four meetings in the Liberty A-League, with the Sky Blues running out to a 4-0 win in their most recent clash (April 2023).
Western United v Sydney FC
Sunday, January 14 2024
Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 5pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: 10 Bold & Paramount+
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Sunday, 5pm (AEDT): Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City
Two of the Liberty A-League’s most in-form teams clash at CommBank Stadium on Sunday evening, as Western Sydney Wanderers go head-to-head with leaders Melbourne City.
The Wanderers are flying high at the minute, winning consecutive games against Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory, with Sophie Harding leading the charge up front.
Harding now has eight goals this season after her brace last Sunday against the Glory, taking her equal top of the Golden Boot standings alongside Canberra United’s Vesna Milivojevic.
Their win over Perth took Western Sydney inside the top six on goal difference, with their biggest looming this weekend against a City side who are firing on all cylinders at the moment.
City extended their lead atop the standings to six points with a resounding 5-0 win over Adelaide United.
Dario Vidosic’s side have scored a whopping 10 goals in their last two games, taking their tally to 28 goals for the season, which is far and away the best attacking record of the season so far, eight goals clear of Canberra United.
Also during this run, both Emina Ekic and Daniela Galic have scored hat-tricks, while Hannah Wilkinson has also helped herself to two goals of her own, showcasing the wide array of attacking talents on show at City this season.
Opta stat: Western Sydney Wanderers have won four of their last six Liberty A-League games (D1 L1) including their last two in a row; a third straight win would equal their longest ever streak in the competition (W3 in November 2019).
Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City
Sunday, January 14 2024
CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 5pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: 10Play & Paramount+
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