An intriguing contest awaits for fans in the west and nationally on ABC1.
Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory
Sunday 1 December 2013
nib Stadium, Perth
Local kick-off: 12 midday (3pm AEDT)
** Catch all the action Live* nationally at 3.00pm on ABC1. Or catch up from Monday on ABC iView with a full replay at 3.30am on Thursday (*live in AEDT states)
An intriguing contest awaits for fans in the west and nationally on ABC1. These two sides have x-factor to burn, yet have leaked goals at a rate that will concern both coaches. The net has been found 18 times in the four matches in which these two have featured so far this season. Goals, it seems, are assured.
The Glory have suffered a blow with forward line target and Westfield Matildas co-captain Kate Gill missing through illness. While the Glory will clearly miss last year-s Golden Boot winner, they will no doubt be hungry to overturn last year-s unfortunate penalty shoot-out defeat against the Victory which cost them a Grand Final berth. On the positive side, Collette McCallum-s two impressive displays as a substitute for the Westfield Matildas indicates that the dynamic left-footer has rediscovered her mojo.
Melbourne make the long trip west with much focus, as it so often is, on forward Lisa De Vanna who will face her former club for the first time. So too, the Victory have been boosted by the return of all-action midfielder Jess Fishlock who was an integral part of the Victory-s breakthrough campaign last term. Fishlock, who played for Wales in FIFA Women-s World Cup qualifiers last week, returns to Australia with her reputation even further enhanced by an impressive season for Seattle Reign in the maiden season of USA-s National Women-s Soccer League. On the debit side, Melbourne have lost in-form goalkeeper Brianna Davey to an injury sustained on national team duty during the week.
The match will be Perth-s sixth annual National Breast Cancer Foundation fundraiser and the Glory women will don a specially produced strip, which contains pink pinstripes in recognition of the NBCF cause. Part proceeds from ticket sales will go towards NBCF. More reason than ever before to get along to this game.
Perth Glory squad: 1. Chantel JONES (gk), 2. Sarah CARROLL, 3. Cecilie SANDVEJ, 4. Bronwyn STUDMAN, 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Sasha ANDREWS, 8. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 9. Rosie SUTTON, 13. Elisa D-OVIDIO, 14. Collette McCALLUM, 15. Jess DILLON, 16. Thia EASTMAN, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 18. Amy KNIGHTS, 19. Shawn BILLAM, 20. Kathleen WAYCOTT (gk), 21. Christina JULIEN (two to be omitted)
Ins: Jess Dillon, Thia Eastman, Amy Knights (all promoted)
Outs: Kate Gill (illness – indefinite)
Unavailable: Aivi Luik (hamstring – indefinite), Kat Jukic (groin – indefinite)
Melbourne Victory squad: 3. Jessica Humble 4. Katie Hoyle 5. Laura Spiranovic 6. Cindy Lay 7. Stephanie Catley (c) 9. Caitlin Friend 10. Jessica Fishlock 11. Lisa De Vanna 12. Jessica Samuelsson 13. Tiffany Eliadis 14. Enza Barilla 15. Emma Checker 16. Beatrice Goad 17. Gulcan Koca 19. Alexandra Natoli, 20. Cassandra Dimovski (GK), 30. Melissa Maizels (GK) (two to be omitted)
Ins: Jessica Fishlock (Seattle Reign, USA), Laura Spiranovic, Tiffany Eliadis, Melissa Maizels (all promoted)
Outs: Brianna Davey (glute 1-2 weeks), Emily Hulbert (glandular fever)
Unavailable: Ashley Brown (knee – 1 week), Rebekah Stott (overseas – 4 weeks)
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