Canberra United are on the road this weekend, travelling to South Australia to take on third-placed Adelaide United as the quest for a top six spot continues in the Ninja A-League Round 16.
Canberra head into this clash unbeaten in the last four games having won two and drawn two but face a stern challenge in the form of an Adelaide side that has not lost in their last eight, a formidable run of form.
Revenge is on the mind for the team from the national capital, with the previous meeting between the two this season ending in a two-nil win for Adelaide at McKellar Park back in Round Three.
Canberra have seen their playing squad bolstered in recent weeks, as Aideen Keane returned to match play two weeks ago, and American import Madison Ayson made her return to the match day squad last week named as a substitute, however, did not feature in the draw with Central Coast.
This will be the 29th meeting between the two sides, Canberra having won sixteen times and Adelaide seven, since the first meeting in 2008 which ended in a goalless draw at McKellar Park, Thea Slayer sent off for the hosts.
Fiona Worts has been a bright spark for the Reds since returning to the club, with seven goals to date, and will certainly be one for Canberra to keep an eye on. Worts isn’t the only one that has been on target though, with Emily Condon and Chelsie Dawber both having six goals to their names, while Erin Healy has five.
Currently sitting two points outside the top six, this match presents a golden opportunity for Canberra to jump into a finals spot, pending other results, ahead of the international break.
Defence will be key for Antoni Jagarinec’s players, with four clean sheets to date this season and twenty goals conceded.
With only eight games remaining in what has been a fascinating campaign, bringing with it a maximum of 24 points up for grabs, every match is crucial as Canberra look to make finals for the first time since the 2020/21 season.
