Have we seen a tighter ladder in the history of the Westfield W-League? With only three rounds remaining, nine points separate eight teams, with Canberra United, Sydney FC and Melbourne City reviving their finals hopes in the space of a fortnight.
Thursday night is a must-win for Canberra United, where anything other than a win will resign them to another missed Finals campaign.
READ: Heroic Carpenter crafts solid victory for Canberra
REPORT: Depleted Jets deliver second-half onslaught as finals dream lingers
HEROIC MOMENTS: Ubogagu’s strike makes Brisbane big winners from Westfield W-League Round 11
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Adelaide are also in a precarious position, having dropped out of the top-four for the first time following a 1-0 loss to Canberra.
All eyes will be on Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC, as a win for either side will go a long way into determining their final position.
It all wraps up with Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets, a game neither side can afford to lose too close to the home straight, while Perth must contend with a bye at a time when they may have just wanted to get back to winning ways.
Note: International viewers without a broadcasting rights holder, you can watch the Westfield W-League matches LIVE on the My Football Youtube channel. Click HERE to see how to watch internationally.
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Canberra United v Melbourne Victory
Thursday, 7:30pm AEDT
Wow — only a few weeks ago, Canberra United appeared out of finals contention.
Now, with four points in their last three games including a 1-0 victory over Adelaide United in Round 11, Heather Garriock’s side are in with a legitimate chance of finishing in the top four.
Thursday night is Canberra’s second-last clash of the 2018/19 Season, before they close out Round 13 against Brisbane Roar.
Victory, despite beating Melbourne City in Round 10, now look a beatable outfit and within arms length of the chasing pack.
A finals spot is almost certain for Jeff Hopkins’ side, but they cannot rest on their laurels.
How to watch: Tune in to FOX SPORTS 505 to catch this clash, with kick-off at 7:30pm AEDT. You can also stream the match live on the MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers. For viewers outside Australia and New Zealand without a broadcasting rights holder, you can watch games on the My Football Youtube channel.
Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers
Saturday, 4:30pm AEDT
For the first time this season, Adelaide United have fallen out of the top four. Ivan Karlović’s side started so promisingly, but eight points from their last six games has seen them drop to fifth spot.
Most recently, the Reds fell to a resurgent Canberra outfit, but have a great chance to turn their form around against a Western Sydney Wanderers side yet to register a win.
Despite losing 3-0 to their crosstown rivals, Dan Barrett’s outfit fought hard in the first half and had some chances of their own. However, a second-half brace to Caitlin Foord, along with Caitlin Jarvie’s red card on 79 minutes, put the result out of Western Sydney’s reach.
Fighting for pride at this point, the Wanderers can still play a role in affecting the outcome of the top four.
How to watch: You can stream this match at 4:30pm AEDT live on the MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers. For viewers outside Australia and New Zealand without a broadcasting rights holder, you can watch games on the My Football Youtube channel.
Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC
Saturday, 5pm AEDT
What’s there not to love about the Westfield W-League?
In what might just be the game of Round 12, Sydney FC travel to Lions Stadium on Saturday afternoon to take on a Brisbane Roar outfit only two points ahead of them.
It is remarkable to think that a win for Sydney FC can put them into second spot and potentially within one point of ladder-leaders Melbourne Victory.
Ante Juric’s side have collected nine points from their last four fixtures, amassing 12 goals along the way.
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Let’s not take anything away from Brisbane, though. Mel Andreatta’s side have 10 points from their last four fixtures, scoring nine goals in that time and putting themselves into a commanding position with three games remaining.
With games against Canberra United and Adelaide United in their last two fixtures, a loss for Brisbane should not signal panic stations — their fate is well and truly in their hands come these final three rounds.
How to watch: You can stream this match at 5pm AEDT live on the MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers. For viewers outside Australia and New Zealand without a broadcasting rights holder, you can watch games on the My Football Youtube channel.
Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets
Sunday, 7:30pm AEDT
Two points out of the top four, and six from Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City are in with a chance of adding to their thrice-consecutive Championship-winning feat.
Back-to-back, single-goal losses to Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory scuppered Rado Vidosic’s side just as they appeared to be building momentum. With only two games remaining for City, including Round 12’s fixture against Newcastle Jets, is a finals spot just a bridge too far?
Such a question could be posed to the Jets, too. With three games remaining for them, it seems anything less than nine points will result in hoping other results fall their way.
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It’s been an interesting campaign for Craig Deans’ outfit, hampered by injuries and suspensions to key Westfield Matildas personnel. Just as Larissa Crummer returned, the Jets were dealt a heavy blow as Emily van Egmond was ruled out for the rest of the 2018/19 Season.
They can only look forward now as they seek to make it three from three and seal a memorable finals spot.
How to watch: You can stream this match at 7:30pm AEDT live on the MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers. For viewers outside Australia and New Zealand without a broadcasting rights holder, you can watch games on the My Football Youtube channel.
