Canberra United head to Western Australia for Round 5 of the Liberty A-League looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they clash with Perth Glory on Saturday evening at Macedonia Park.
The 3-0 win over Wellington Phoenix in front of 1,430 spectators at McKellar Park meant that United have picked up five points from the opening nine available and sit in sixth place, four points off the top with a game in hand on most of those above them.
Glory meanwhile are ninth having only collected two points from a possible twelve to date, but with one of those being from the opening day 2-2 stalemate with United in Canberra, they will be confident of earning the maximum possible return in front of their own supporters on home soil.
United will take great heart from their opening to that match, some more clinical finishing surely would have yielded a victory, and that was something that was clearly visible in the comfortable win over the Phoenix.
Leading sharp-shooter Michelle Heyman got off the mark against the team from New Zealand, a double for the ace predator, a timely reminder of her technical prowess and ability to round off team moves and half-chances with an efficiency that has taken her to the summit of all Liberty A-League goalscorers.
The partnership with Grace Jale, the ex-Phoenix star currently on two goals this season, and the industry and creativity of Laura Hughes, Grace Maher and the exceptional Vesna Milivojevic behind, has been a highlight of the season to date for United and hints at more promise to come.
Defensively, United kept a first clean sheet in Round 4, coming off the back of two draws to open the 2022/2023 campaign, something that will no doubt please Head Coach Njegosh Popovich.
Home defeats to Adelaide United (0-1) and Melbourne Victory (0-3) without scoring a goal showcase the Glory’s problems at home and yet a brace of 2-2 away draws suggest that they have the firepower and ability to cause problems to any defence.
Entertainment is usually high on the agenda when these two meet and Canberra boast a great record in the West, five wins and six draws from thirteen matches proof that the team from the Capital travel well to Perth. Twenty-five meetings between the clubs have produced exactly 100 goals, and the hope is for more this weekend.
MATCH DETAILS
Sunday 18 December 2022
Perth Glory v Canberra United
(Macedonia Park, 19:00 AEDT)
Live on 10Play and Paramount+
