The Liberty A-League top-four race is primed for a grand-stand finish after an incredible end to Round 19.
Strap yourselves in, folks – we are in for a grand-stand finish.
The race for the final two spots will go right down to the final game of the Liberty A-League regular season – after a dramatic conclusion to Round 19 – thanks to Melbourne Victory’s 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory’s stunning 4-3 comeback victory over Melbourne City.
And frankly, it was a finish straight from a Hollywood director’s notebook – particularly, given what happened at Macedonia Park in the late kick-off – that saw six goals in the space of 20 minutes.
As a result, only four points separate third all the way through to sixth on the table, with City (29), Victory (28), Canberra United (28) and Perth (25) – with a game in hand – all set to jostle it out for a top four berth.
Victory will head across the ditch to face bottom-placed Wellington Phoenix on Saturday, Perth prepare for a daunting road-trip, with clashes against Sydney (Wednesday night) and Brisbane (Saturday) to come – while Canberra and City meet in a blockbuster final game of the regular season on Sunday.
You couldn’t ask for a better finish.
It was all set-up for an entertaining conclusion to the round when it all kicked off on Saturday afternoon at City Vista Reserve in Melbourne’s west.
MORE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL NEWS
READ: Heyman’s message to Matildas selectors after breaking ‘special’ record 15 years in the making
VICTORY: Senior players rally after Roar stalemate leaves top four hopes on edge
SEVEN GOAL THRILLER: Seven goals in 20 minutes! Glory still alive in top four race after thrilling comeback win over City
After a successful appeal to have their win over Sydney FC reinstated, Canberra kept themselves right in the hunt thanks to a 3-0 win over Western United – but their focus would quickly shift to Sunday given the teams involved and their positions on the ladder.
A win for Victory against the Roar and they were a single point away from securing a place inside the four, while three points gained for City would lock in consecutive finals appearances.
To say the results couldn’t go any better for the trailing pack is a complete understatement.
Victory battled back to secure a 1-1 draw with Brisbane, but could have easily taken home all three points if it wasn’t for a series of quality saves from Roar keeper Hensley Hancuff.
Later that evening, Perth found themselves down 1-0 after Rhianna Pollicina gave City an early lead and were staring down the barrel of their finals hopes being all but over with twenty minutes remaining.
Or were they.
In a matter of a minute – goals Sadie Lawrence and Hannah Blake gave Glory an unlikely advantage – with the latter scoring a tremendous long-range goal to send Macedonia Park into raptures.
However, her Football Ferns teammate Hannah Wilkinson responded almost immediately to tie things up again.
Perth would hit back with a quick-fire double from Hana Lowry and Cyera Hintzen to give them the lead, before Julia Grosso pulled one back late on to set-up a grandstand finish and if it wasn’t for Glory keeper Sarah Langman – the result could have been markedly different.
Langman had already been called into action on a number of actions to save Glory’s skin throughout the 90, but her last ditch save on Katie Bowen was perhaps the best of the lot – preserving the 4-3 win in the dying embers.
It now leaves us with the question: what does this all mean heading into the final week of the season and who will join Western United and Sydney FC in the post-season?
KEEPUP takes a look at how things are left heading into the final week of the season.
Melbourne City
- Position: 3rd
- Points: 29
- Goal-difference: +13
- Final round matchup: vs Canberra United @ AAMI Park, Sunday April 2, 5:40 PM (AEDT) kick-off
City squandered a golden opportunity to wrap up the third spot inside the four in their loss to Perth Glory.
Despite having 30 shots to seven, they were unable to put down a resilient Perth outfit, who ultimately made them pay for their wastefulness in the final third.
Now, Dario Vidosic’s side face what is essentially a ‘win and you’re in’ clash in the final game of the season against Canberra United on Sunday. A draw or loss could still be enough but will be dependant on other results.
Melbourne Victory
- Position: 4th
- Points: 28
- Goal-difference: +7
- Final round matchup: vs Wellington Phoenix @ Sky Stadium, Saturday April 1, 10:15 AM (AEDT) kick-off
Victory had a brilliant opportunity to close in on another finals berth.
Their 1-1 draw with Brisbane, coupled by wins to Canberra and Perth was essentially the worst possible thing that could happen to Jeff Hopkins’ side – who for the second straight season, have left it to the final day to wrap up their place inside the top four.
This time, however, they may need more than just a draw to wrap up a finals berth.
Victory could be outside the four heading into their final round clash on the road to Wellington next week, if Perth beat Sydney FC by more than a goal on Wednesday. A win against the bottom placed ‘Nix should be enough to wrap up a finals berth, but they will know more after Glory’s clash with Sydney on Wednesday as to how the table is shaping up around them.
However, if Victory can get into the finals from fourth – again – this would be nothing new for Hopkins’ side, who have won the last two championships from outside the top two.
Canberra United
- Position: 5th
- Points: 28
- Goal-difference: +5
- Final round matchup: vs Melbourne City @ AAMI Park, Sunday April 2, 5:40 PM (AEDT) kick-off
Canberra’s finals hopes are well and truly still alive thanks to a six-point boost in the space of 24 hours.
Their reinstated victory over Sydney FC, plus win over Western United on Saturday took the side from the capital inside the four momentarily, until Melbourne Victory’s draw against Brisbane knocked them down to fifth.
Canberra now face Melbourne City in a huge final game of the season, which will more than likely determine their finals fate – but they will be watching on to see what happens in Perth’s clashes vs Sydney and Brisbane.
Perth Glory
- Position: 6th
- Points: 25
- Goal-difference: +6
- Final week matchups: vs Sydney FC @ Nestrata Jubilee Stadium, Wednesday March 29, kick-off 7 PM (AEDT) & vs Brisbane Roar @ Perry Park, Saturday April 1 @ 3 PM (AEDT)
Glory kept their slim finals hopes alive with an incredible come from behind victory over Melbourne City on Sunday evening, but they still have a lot more climbing to do if they are to make the finals.
Perth now head on the road for a daunting run of away games – playing three in the space of six days – where they effectively have to win both to give themselves the best chance of making the four.
First up they, take on second-placed Sydney FC on Wednesday before facing Brisbane Roar on Saturday afternoon.
A win against Sydney would also mean the Premier’s Plate destiny remains in the hands of Western United.
They may need a bit of help to get there too, relying on both Victory and Canberra or even, City to drop points- in order to make it an easier ride into the four.
Can they run the gauntlet or – after missing out last year on goal difference – will it be back-to-back seasons of final day heartache?
