With the Westfield Matildas players well and truly back into the swing of the Westfield W-League action, we look at which teammates will go head-to-head, and who’s got the wood over the other.
Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar do battle in this week’s televised fixture on FOX SPORTS 505, as Emily van Egmond and Gema Simon take on Katrina Gorry and Clare Polkinghorne.
Melbourne City’s trio of Westfield Matildas play Adelaide United’s Michelle Heyman, while Victory’s Laura Alleway and Emily Gielnik take on Western Sydney Wanderers.
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Sunday afternoon’s second fixture sees up to six Westfield Matildas take to the field as Sydney FC travel to McKellar Park to take on Canberra United.
Note: International viewers without a broadcasting rights holder, you can watch the Westfield W-League matches LIVE on the My Football Youtube channel. Please click HERE to see how to watch internationally.
Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar
Thursday, 7:30pm AEDT
Note: This fixture has moved from No.2 Sportsground to McDonald Jones Stadium.
Emily van Egmond showed in Round 4 that she is back to her best after succumbing to a knock on international duty in the lead-up to Round 3.
Gema Simon, meanwhile, was a late inclusion to Alen Stajcic’s Westfield Matildas squad, but her performance for Australia, along with back-to-back, 90-minute showings in the Westfield W-League show she’s up there with the best.
Simon and van Egmond will have to be at their best if Newcastle are to get their third consecutive win. Brisbane Roar boast a trio of Westfield Matildas in Gorry, Polkinghorne and Mackenzie Arnold.
Interestingly, of the five Westfield Matildas, four of them often feature in the spine, suggesting this clash might be won and lost in the middle of the park.
The bigger the fight, the better. Thursday night is going to be a ripper.
How to watch: Tune in to FOX SPORTS 505 to catch this clash, with kick-off at 7:30pm AEDT. You can also stream the match live on the MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers. For viewers outside Australia and New Zealand without a broadcasting rights holder, you can watch games on the My Football Youtube channel.
Melbourne City v Adelaide United
Saturday, 7:30pm AEDT
Melbourne City’s Westfield Matildas host a red-hot Adelaide United midfield boasting not only Michelle Heyman, but two wins and a draw from their three fixtures.
The Reds made history in Round 3, notching up their first ever consecutive clean sheets, and then went one better the week after, making themselves the only team in the Westfield W-League 2018/19 Season yet to conceded a goal.
For City’s host of stars, the equation is simple: start winning. Elise Kellond-Knight tried to do that in Round 4, burying a laser-like free-kick past Eliza Campbell as well as a penalty to grab a brace.
Tameka Butt and Lydia Williams will also most likely feature for Rado Vidosic’s team in the must-win clash at C. B. Smith Reserve.
How to watch: You can stream this 7:30pm AEDT kick-off on the MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers. For viewers outside Australia and New Zealand without a broadcasting rights holder, you can watch games on the My Football Youtube channel.
Melbourne Victory v Western Sydney Wanderers
Sunday, 4pm AEDT
Melbourne Victory may only have two Westfield Matildas in their ranks, but they certainly are flying high.
Victoria’s navy blue outfit are outright first on ten points, registering three wins and a draw in their opening four fixtures.
Instrumental to this run has been Laura Alleway and Emily Gielnik.
Gielnik had a week to remember last week, scoring against Chile, and then replicating that feat days later against Melbourne City. She was immense in Round 4, too, providing the assist for Natasha Dowie’s hat-trick.
Alleway has been a rock at the back and pivotal to Melbourne’s form. The 28-year-old hasn’t missed a minute for Victory, and has a pass rate of 75% — incredible figures for a defender playing the ball out under pressure.
Victory take on a Western Sydney Wanderers side looking for their first point and goal of Season 2018/19.
How to watch: You can stream this 4:00pm AEDT kick-off on the MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers. For viewers outside Australia and New Zealand without a broadcasting rights holder, you can watch games on the My Football Youtube channel.
Canberra United v Sydney FC
Sunday, 4pm AEDT
Ante Juric’s team head to the nation’s capital coming off the back of two consecutive defeats.
After starting so strongly with a 3-0 victory over Western Sydney, the Sky Blues' campaign has hit a road block, succumbing to 3-1 and 3-2 losses to both Melbourne outfits.
Chloe Logarzo and Alanna Kennedy scored for the Sky Blues, and will call upon teammates Lisa De Vanna, Caitlin Foord and Princess Ibini to turn their form around.
For the hosts, Ellie Carpenter dug deep in the midfield as Canberra lost 2-0 to Adelaide United in Round 4.
The 18-year-old is developing into a sensational talent, capable of playing in all parts of the field.
Sunday afternoon at McKellar Park is sure to be an intense encounter, with both teams yet to win since Round 1 and in desperate need of staying in touch of a finals place.
How to watch: You can stream this 4:00pm AEDT kick-off on the MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers. For viewers outside Australia and New Zealand without a broadcasting rights holder, you can watch games on the My Football Youtube channel.
