Leaders Canberra United can sight history as they seek to become the first side to go through a Westfield W-League regular season undefeated.
Melbourne Victory v Canberra United
Friday 30 December
Veneto Club, Melbourne
Local kick-off: 5pm
Leaders Canberra United can sight history as they seek to become the first side to go through a Westfield W-League regular season undefeated.
If they can get past the notoriously resilient Victory on their home turf, Canberra will only have to see off Adelaide United in their final match to achieve the unprecedented feat.
Melbourne though harbour ambitions of their own and while a win maintains hopes of finishing second, defeat will open up the possibility of losing out on a finals berth to fifth-placed Newcastle Jets.
The pair last met in Round 4 where Canberra scored a hard-working though deserved 2-1 win. Since then the Victory have continued to grow under Australia U-17 coach Vicki Linton, losing just once since that meeting at Belconnen.
While the Victory-s success has been built on team work ethic rather than individual flair, nevertheless the home side will sorely miss one of their key attacking outlets in Katrina Gorry. The livewire midfielder, whose partnership with striker Jodie Taylor has been a feature of the feature of the Victory-s success, will be suspended for this match.
Canberra have enjoyed form all over the park with an irresistible attack in the shape of leading goalscorer Michelle Heyman and flanker Taryn Hemmings, while a resolute defence is backed by the league-s form goalkeeper in Lydia Williams. United though will be without teenage midfielder Kahlia Hogg who has departed for a scholarship in the US.
