The Ninja A-League continues this weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 14 of the 2024-25 season.
Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 14.
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Western United v Western Sydney Wanderers
Friday, January 31 – Ironbark Fields- 7:00pm AEDT
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Round 14 gets underway on Friday night when Western United welcome the Wanderers to Ironbark Fields.
Knowing a win will see them climb into the top six to start the weekend, Western will be hoping to build on the hard-fought point they earned against Adelaide United last time out.
With Kahli Johnson firing on all cylinders and a joint-leader in the race for the Golden Boot (7 goals), Western will fancy their chances of a bagging all three points when they take on the side sat last on the ladder.
The Wanderers head into the game having most recently been beaten 1-0 by Melbourne City – their fourth-straight league defeat.
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One thing that will give the Wanderers some hope though is that they come up against a Western side that currently has the worst defensive record in the league.
A win for the away side would be just their second league victory of the campaign and while it wouldn’t be enough to see them climb off the foot of the ladder, it would see them potentially close the gap to 11th placed Sydney FC.
Sydney FC v Adelaide United
Friday, January 31 – Leichhardt Oval – 7:00pm AEDT
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Left to lick their wounds following defeat to Melbourne Victory in the Big Blue in Round 13, Ante Juric’s Sydney FC side now come up against high-flying Adelaide United on Friday night.
Having now recorded seven losses for the campaign, the Sky Blues sit second-bottom on the ladder after 13 matches and they take on a Reds side unbeaten in their last five matches.
Whilst defensively they’ve struggled this season, Sydney FC’s biggest issue has been putting the ball in the back of the net and with just nine goals to their names they rank as the competition’s lowest scoring side, and by some distance.
Adelaide head to the Harbour City no doubt disappointed not to have bagged all three points in Round 13 having drawn 1-1 with Western United.
Key to the Reds’ success this season has been striker Fiona Worts who, with seven goals to her name, currently sits joint leader in the race for the Golden Boot.
The in-form forward has missed her side’s last two matches as she recovers form a quad injury but Reds boss Adrian Stenta will be hoping Worts can return in time to face her old team.
Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets
Saturday, February 1 – Industree Group Stadium – 4:50pm AEDT
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Emily Husband’s Central Coast Mariners head into this weekend’s F3 Derby sat comfortably inside the Ninja A-League’s top six thanks to their 1-0 win over Wellington Phoenix in Round 13.
Tiana Fuller’s second-half goal proved to be the difference between the two sides with the Mariners occupying fifth place on the ladder coming into Round 14.
The first meeting between these two sides this season, Husband’s Mariners have won one and lost one against their rivals since returning to the competition and will be hoping to inflict a seventh defeat of the season upon the Jets on Saturday.
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Ryan Campbell’s side had shots aplenty against Canberra United in Round 13 and eventually bagged themselves a point from the game thanks to Sheridan Gallagher’s 71st equaliser in a game that finished 2-2.
However, after pulling her side level in the contest Gallagher then received her matching orders in the 88th minute thanks to a late challenge on Jynaya Dos Santos meaning she’ll be suspended for the trip to Gosford.
Canberra United v Perth Glory
Saturday, February 1 – McKellar Park- 5:00pm AEDT
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Canberra United head into the latest round of Ninja A-League action sat within striking distance of the top six.
A 2-2 draw with Newcastle Jets in Round 13 left Antoni Jagarinec’s side sat in eighth spot on the ladder but crucially just one point behind Wellington Phoenix who currently occupy sixth spot.
The team from the nation’s capital have been in pretty consistent form of late recording three wins and a draw in their last five matches – a run which has seen them pull clear of Perth Glory in ninth.
The Glory head to the ACT buoyed by their recent win over Brisbane Roar in Round 13.
A double from the returning Caitlin Doeglas coupled with a dramatic 93rd minute winner from Ella Abdul-Massih secured the home side their first win at the Sam Kerr Football Centre this season and sets up what could be an entertaining clash at McKellar Park.
Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, February 1 – ctrl:cyber Pitch – 5:00pm AEDT
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The Ninja A-League’s top two teams collide on Saturday afternoon in what is a truly mouthwatering clash at ctrl:cyber Pitch between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.
Still the only side yet to taste defeat this season, Michael Matricciani’s City sit top of the pile with 29 points from 13 games and will be hoping to make it two-from-two against their biggest rivals having already defeated them 3-2 earlier in the campaign.
City come into the game with three draws and two wins in their last five matches, the most recent of which came in the form of a 1-0 triumph over Western Sydney in Round 13.
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As for Victory, Jeff Hopkins’ side are two points back from their neighbours on the ladder but are riding high having secured their third win on the bounce against; a 2-0 triumph over Sydney FC.
Furthermore, with Matildas forward Emily Gielnik currently the joint-leader of the Golden Boot race, Victory will believe they have the firepower to cause an upset on Saturday afternoon and also know a win against City will not only hand them their first loss of the campaign but also send Victory to the top of the ladder in the process.
Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday, February 2 – Perry Park – 6:00pm AEDT
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Having started the season so brightly, Brisbane Roar find themselves in something of a tailspin heading into their Round 14 game with Wellington.
Now sat fourth on the ladder, the Roar have endured four losses in their last five matches, three of which have come in their last three games.
Fresh off an agonising 3-2 loss to Perth Glory last time out, they’ll be hoping key winger Sharn Freier’s injury isn’t too bad and that she’s fit enough to feature on Sunday as they bid to put an end to their poor run of form.
As for Wellington, Paul Temple’s side are currently occupying the all-important final spot in the Top Six.
A 1-0 loss to the Central Coast Mariners last time out leaves them level on points with 7th placed Western United but, crucially, ahead of them on goal difference – a factor which could be key come the end of the regular season.
The last time these two sides met, it was Wellington who came away with all three points thanks to an Annalie Longo brace and the Nix will be hoping they can capitalise in Brisbane’s poor form and potentially go above them into fourth on the ladder.