Westfield W-League Round 12 had fans wondering if the top four logjam would end and the finals equation begin to become a little clearer.
The answer, after another thrilling weekend, was an emphatic ‘no’.
Just three points separates second place from sixth, effectively rendering every remaining game a must-win for any side harbouring hopes of post-season action.
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Western Sydney Wanderers will be hoping to jag back-to-back wins when they take on Perth Glory, while Brisbane Roar can almost certainly seal a finals spot if they emerge victorious over visitors Canberra United.
Adelaide United meet a Newcastle Jets side on the precipice of bowing out of finals contention, while the weekend’s last match sees a top of the table Big Blue when Melbourne Victory take on Sydney FC.
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.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory
Thursday, 7:30pm AEDT
Better late than never is the saying and it couldn’t be more applicable after the Wanderers finally broke through for their first win of the 2018/19 Season in Round 12.
Not only did they pick up the three points, they thumped the Reds 4-1 on the road in a dominant display.
Returning home, they will fancy their chances against a Glory side that succumbed to a 3-1 loss against Newcastle in their last fixture.
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For Perth, Thursday night is a crucial tie having fallen to fourth place and in danger of dropping out of the top four altogether if they don’t take maximum points.
Sam Kerr leads the Golden Boot race with 10 goals but knows her one-goal buffer at the top is sure to be challenged in the coming fortnight by Veronica Latsko, Caitlin Foord and Natasha Dowie.
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.
Brisbane Roar v Canberra United
Friday, 5:20pm AEDT
A few weeks ago, Canberra United looked like they would miss the Westfield W-League finals for consecutive seasons, something unimaginable given the club’s successful history.
Since then however, Canberra have hauled themselves back into contention and could even be on the cusp of the top four had they gotten a result in their abandoned game against Victory last Thursday.
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That match will be played on an unconfirmed date and, for now, United must focus on the immediate future, a tricky trip to face the Roar.
Brisbane missed a golden opportunity to nail down a finals spot as they went down 3-1 to Sydney FC last week and Mel Andreatta’s side know that another loss could put their playoff hopes in jeopardy.
With everything to play for, neither side will be short of motivation and hunger.
How to watch: Tune in to FOX SPORTS 505 or SBS VICELAND to catch this clash, with kick-off at 5:30pm 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 Newcastle Jets
Friday, 7:30pm AEDT
The Reds’ finals quest suffered a setback when they fell on their own sword at home to the Wanderers.
A win that many expected would have taken them into third place – but instead they find themselves stuck in sixth and ruing the opportunity to have put their noses in front over the past two weeks.
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They will host a desperate Jets side who find themselves placed in the proverbial last-chance saloon, six points behind the fourth-placed Glory. Jets were dealt a psychological blow following their 4-0 loss to Melbourne City on Sunday night, but it also means the only way is up for Craig Deans’s side.
While extremely unlikely to feature in a semi-final, don’t expect Newcastle to accept their fate just yet, making Friday night’s game a must-win for both sides.
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.
Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC
Sunday, 4:00pm
Absolutely no introduction needed for this clash of the titans the day after Australia Day.
Victory have enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, sitting proudly atop the Westfield W-League ladder with one hand on the Premiers Plate.
Sydney meanwhile have stormed back into contention after an indifferent start to the season that saw them lose three out of their first four games and now sit in second place after a 3-1 victory over the Roar.
https://players.brightcove.net/5472387882001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5991337939001
Natasha Dowie and Caitlin Foord go head-to-head in a Golden Boot shootout, with the Westfield Matildas forward currently one goal ahead of her navy blue counterpart.
With Sydney FC displaying perhaps the most scintillating football in recent weeks, and Melbourne playing with a newfound maturity, we’re expecting a classic.
Grab the popcorn and settle in for this potential Grand Final preview!
How to watch: You can stream this match at 4:00pm 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.
