Melbourne City FC star Jess Fishlock believes the opportunity to create Westfield W-League history serves as the perfect motivation ahead of Sunday’s Grand Final against Sydney FC.
City’s steely resolve and big-game experience – characteristics which have been trademarks of the past two history making W-League campaigns – came to the fore once again as Patrick Kisnorbo’s side overcame Premiers Plate winners Brisbane Roar 2-0 in the Semi Final at Perry Park.
The back-to-back champions will now face Sydney FC in the W-League showpiece at Allianz Stadium on Sunday with the opportunity to become the first team in competition history to win three consecutive Championship titles.
“Any team wants to win the Championship, but the chance to win three in a row will give us an extra bit of motivation,” Fishlock said. It would go down in history and would be very hard to beat.
“But we have to view it as another game of football. If we view it as anything else, then the game will go out the window. We must treat it like any other game.”
City weathered the searing Brisbane heat and a first-half onslaught from a fiery Roar outfit but stood firm in defence to register a second consecutive clean sheet.
When it mattered most, City’s defence stood tall once again, with second-half goals to Aivi Luik and Fishlock – her sixth of another prolific campaign – enough to keep the treble flame burning for another week.
Up next is the test of quelling an in-form Sydney attack consisting of Matildas Lisa De Vanna and Chloe Logarzo; a test Fishlock is confident her side can overcome.
“We have one of the best back-fours and goalkeepers in the world – if not the best goalkeeper (Lydia Williams). We know what Sydney is about and we know their players, but we truly believe in our group and our quality.
“We’ll go into next week full of confidence and I have no doubt Patrick [Kisnorbo] will give us every bit of information and preparation that we need to win.”
