Canberra United makes their first away trip of the season, travelling to Wellington to take on the Phoenix in the Capital Clash/
United are looking to bounce back after a disappointing defeat in their season opener to the Newcastle Jets. The 2-1 defeat is the first time United have lost their opening fixture since the 2021/22 season.
United were able to dominate possession for large portions of the game and looked the more likely to win after the half time break. But a shift in tempo from the Jets in the second half pushed United back, and a late goal sealed the win for a travelling Jets side in the 89th minute.
Despite the loss, United had plenty to smile about coming away from the fixture. Michelle Heyman, United’s top scorer last season, opened her goal scoring account inside 14 minutes, three players made their club debuts and three more made their A-League debuts, and returning player Sasha Grove was awarded Player of the Match.
Wellington Phoenix opens their season this Saturday after having a bye in round one. The Pheonix finished in 9th place last season with seven wins, three draws, and thirteen losses.
The double header fixture at Sky Stadium is Head Coach Bev Priestman’s first match in charge of the Phoenix. Priestman, who has coached at four FIFA Women’s World Cups and won Olympic Gold with the Canadian Women’s Football Team at Tokyo in 2021, has built a squad brimming with international talent. Lucia Leon (Dominican Republic), Tessel Middag (Netherlands), and Sabitra Bhandari (Nepal) all have strong international resumes, with the trio of Macey Fraser, Victoria Esson, and CJ Bott all joining with Football Ferns experience with New Zealand.
The club have also signed American Ellie Walker, who joins from Portuguese side SC Braga, and Marisa van der Veen, who has represented New Zealand at the U-20 level. The Pheonix have also retained the services of Emma Main, Grace Jale, Brooke Neary, and Mackenzie Barry, who returns as the clubs leading appearance maker with 71.
United won both of last season’s matches against the Pheonix 1-0 and hope to record their second win across the ditch after securing their first last season. United are also looking to avoid some unwanted history, having never lost back-to-back games to begin a season in their 18-year history.
The match kicks off at 4pm AEDT at Sky Stadium, Wellington, and can be streamed on Paramount+.
Words: James Whybrow
