Canberra United welcomes Brisbane Roar to McKellar Park for Round 4 of the WWL prepared for a thorough test of their title credentials
Canberra United welcomes Brisbane Roar to McKellar Park for Round 4 of the Westfield W-League prepared for a thorough test of their title credentials. Brisbane will undoubtedly still be smarting from the manner of their opening day loss to Canberra and will be out to set the record straight when the team-s clash for the second time in just over a month.
For the hosts it-s their first meaningful action since they defeated Western Sydney Wanderers at the same venue in front of 1,007 supporters with the Round 3 clash scheduled for last week against Sydney FC postponed due to the Sky Blues involvement in the International Women-s Club Challenge in Tokyo.
Whilst not having a competitive fixture in a fortnight could halt the momentum built up after a brace of victories in the opening two rounds, Canberra has used the time wisely in getting players back to full fitness and there is a chance that Matildas international Sally Shipard may return from a long term knee injury to be available for selection.
United filled the blank weekends, the Matildas internationals with China accounting for four players in the shape of Michelle Heyman, Lydia Williams, Nicole Sykes and Ashleigh Sykes, with a fixture against a mixed Capital Football Skilleroos squad and emerge with a 3-1 success thanks to a brace of goals from midfielder Jennifer Bisset and a well taken opening goal from forward Georgia Yeoman-Dale.
Having stunned the Westfield W-League in Round 1 with a convincing 3-0 success at AJ Kelly Park in Queensland with goals from Michelle Heyman (2) and Lori Lindsey, Canberra will be confident that they have what it takes in their locker to record what would be a unique achievement, recording a double over Brisbane Roar. No club in the history of the Westfield W-League has beaten the Roar twice in regular season competition and United stand on the verge of just that.
To do so United will have to once again nullify the attacking threats of a Roar team packed with international talent. Clare Polkinghorne, Katrina Gorry, Elise Kellond-Knight, Tameka Butt and Laura Alleway were all important parts in the Matildas series against China and there was a debut in the first match for former Canberra United winger Hayley Raso who will return to her former home for this encounter.
With this game being the final match in the Sports Event calendar for the Canberra Centenary there is sure to be a touch of gold to proceedings. We are set for a match that is going to be exciting and full of incident and could be one of the defining games of the 2013/14 Westfield W-League campaign as Canberra looks to mark the Centenary with a memorable performance.
CANBERRA UNITED SQUAD
1. Lydia WILLIAMS, 2. Catherine BROWN, 3. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 4. Kendall FLETCHER, 5. Grace FIELD, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 8. Meg McLAUGHLIN, 9. Grace GILL, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJAHN, 13. Nicole SYKES, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 15. Sally SHIPARD, 16. Lori LINDSEY, 17. Holly HOUSTON, 19. Jennifer BISSET, 20. Trudy BURKE, 22. Stephanie OCHS
In: 15. Sally SHIPARD
Out: None
Unavailable: None
LAST TIME OUT
Saturday 9th November 2013
Brisbane Roar 0 Canberra United 3 (Lori Lindsey 8-, Michelle Heyman 38-, 49-)
COMPLETE RECORD
01/11/08: Queensland Roar 0 Canberra United 1
27/12/08: Canberra United 1 Queensland Roar 1
17/01/09: Grand Final – Queensland Roar 2 Canberra United 0
03/10/09: Brisbane Roar 3 Canberra United 0
07/11/09: Canberra United 1 Brisbane Roar 2
13/11/10: Canberra United 1 Brisbane Roar 1
20/12/10: Brisbane Roar 1 Canberra United 0
07/02/11: Semi-Final – Brisbane Roar 2 Canberra United 2 (Roar wins 4-2 on penalties)
03/12/11: Brisbane Roar 2 Canberra United 2
28/01/12: Grand Final – Canberra United 3 Brisbane Roar 2
20/10/12: Canberra United 0 Brisbane Roar 0
12/01/13: Brisbane Roar 5 Canberra United 1
09/11/13: Brisbane Roar 0 Canberra United 3
OVERALL: Played 13, Won 3, Drawn 5, Lost 5
HOME: Played 5, Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 1
AWAY: Played 8, Won 2, Drawn 2, Lost 4
