Canberra United welcome the Wellington Phoenix to McKellar Park for another edition of the ‘Capital Clash’ Derby in the penultimate round of the 2024/25 Ninja A-League Women’s season, and the final home game.
The round 22 clash is do-or-die for United, with the side in sixth spot and on the cusp of a first finals appearance since the 2020/21 season.
Fate isn’t entirely in Canberra’s hands however, as the seventh placed Brisbane Roar, only two points behind but with a superior goal difference, take on bottom of the ladder Western Sydney Wanderers at the same time.
A win for United and a loss for Brisbane would see Antoni Jagarinec lead the side to finals in his first season as head coach. Any other combinations of results would have United needing a result out of the final regular season match away to the Wanderers.
The last time United met the Phoenix was back in Round Two, with an 11th minute Michelle Heyman strike enough to seal a win away from home, in front of a vocal crowd at Porirua Park.
The last two results against Wellington have both been 1-0 wins, with Heyman on the scoresheet both times.
Heyman returns from international duty for this crucial Round 22 clash and is set to play her 200th match in the A-League Women’s, being the first woman to do so. It is only the seventh time the two sides have ever met in the competition, with honours even in this fixture at three wins apiece.
