The pressure of finals football starts this weekend against the Perth Glory with Canberra United needing to win the majority of its remaining fixtures to secure a berth in the Westfield W-League finals.
The pressure of finals football starts this weekend against the Perth Glory with Canberra United needing to win the majority of its remaining fixtures to secure a berth in the Westfield W-League finals.
Down but not out, the club remains in sixth place with a win and two draws from the opening six rounds but a win this weekend could see Canberra leap frog Perth into fifth and sit on the cusp of the top four.
While the task at hand will be a challenge, Canberra United is very confident of being able to contest this year-s finals series according to midfielder Snez Veljanovksa.
“It-s going to be an interesting couple of weeks,” Veljanovska said.
“The next few games are vital to us in terms of winning and hopefully making the top four.
“It would be great to move up the ladder but we-re just taking it one week at a time and if we can beat [Perth] then great but we-re certainly going to be up for the challenge and ready.”
Hosting the Glory for the first time on home soil, Veljanovska believes the side took a lot of confidence from last outing against Perth in Round Three which saw Canberra come from two goals behind to draw.
Perth struck twice in the first ten minutes of the match but a season defining second half saw the gutsy side draw level with goals from Tseng Shu O and Ashleigh Sykes as the club recorded its first point of the season.
“I think we can take a lot of confidence out of that one because we now know that we-re capable of winning the game and beating them,” Veljanovska said.
“We know how they play and they-re obviously playing under our conditions so it will be a lot better.
“We-re up for the challenge and I think we can dominate in this game.”
Canberra has made a habit of conceding early in matches, a practice the side is looking to amend.
“It-s been talked about a lot [at training], basically we need to stop doing it,” Veljanovska said.
“We definitely need to get going from the first whistle so we need to work hard and not let anyone score against us in the first few minutes of the game and that-s what-s really costing us at the moment.”
The whole side is focused on the next few weeks and vying for positions with vital matches against Perth, Newcastle and Melbourne in the next three weeks.
“The girls are working really hard at the moment at training,” Veljanovska said.
“Everyone is really trying to earn their spot, do what they can and put in the effort at training so I think that-s really going to help in the game.”
For 22 year old Veljanovska, last weekend was her first start for Canberra United after making six appearances for the club as a substitute, a feat she hopes to achieve a few more times this season.
“It was definitely nerve racking, it took me a little while to get into it but once [the game started] I was switched on and did whatever I could,” Veljanovska said.
“It was a great experience and I-d love to experience it more often.”
“I would love a few more starts.”
The Perth Glory will travel to the national capital for the first time as Canberra United host Round Seven of the Westfield W-League at McKellar Park on Saturday evening with kick off at 5:00pm.
Tickets are available through Capital Football or at the gate.
