Melbourne City FC will be looking to continue on the momentum from Sunday’s Derby win when it takes on Adelaide United on Thursday night.
The clash
It was a remarkable effort from City in its last fixture which saw the Club record its first win of the Westfield W-League season.
Just one week earlier City suffered its heaviest ever Derby defeat, but a big week on the track from Rado Vidosic’s squad saw a massive turnaround last Sunday.
Class finish from Chidiac for the opener 👌
🎥: @FOXFOOTBALL#MelbDerby #MVCvMCY #WLeague #CmonCity pic.twitter.com/xO3kUwEYsF
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) January 17, 2021
City were 0-2 up at half time thanks to an early Alex Chidiac goal which was followed up minutes later by Victory defender Claudia Bunge turning Chinatsu Kira’s cross into her own net.
This half-time lead quickly evaporated as Victory scored twice in the opening minutes of the second half, before a late goal to Harriet Withers secured all three points for City.
Harriet Withers first @WLeague goal is a derby winner! Nothing sweeter!
🎥: @FOXFOOTBALL#MelbDerby #MVCvMCY #WLeague #CmonCity pic.twitter.com/TI1OuDMwAe
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) January 17, 2021
Despite the result a week earlier, this performance had been building for some time as City faced an interrupted start to the season with a number of players joining the squad late due to quarantine requirements.
With the return of captain Emma Checker last week, Vidosic has finally been able to get close to a full and fit squad together.
The big missing piece still is Norwegian midfielder Noor Eckhoff who has completed quarantine and will join the team after they return from Adelaide.
City will be taking plenty of confidence into Thursday’s night fixture but so will United who are coming off the back of consecutive wins against Perth.
An Emily Condon penalty was enough for Adelaide to record a 1-0 win a couple of weeks ago and it backed that up with a 2-1 win in the most recent fixture thanks to a first half Fiona Warts goal and then another winner from Condon in the 74th minute.
This will be City’s first ever trip to Adelaide in the W-League and the Club will be looking to continue its undefeated record against United.
Team news
Lia Muldeary and Julia Sardo have been added to City’s squad for Thursday night’s fixture.
Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Teagan MICAH (gk), 3.Teigen ALLEN, 5.Tori TUMETH, 7.Julia SARDO, 8.Hollie PALMER, 9. Alex CHIDIAC, 10.Chinatsu KIRA, 11.Rhali DOBSON, 12.Harriet WITHERS, 13.Sarah CAIN, 14.Margot ROBINNE, 15. Emma CHECKER (c), 17.Sam JOHNSON, 18.Leah DAVIDSON, 19.Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC, 20.Lia MULDEARY, 21.Jenna McCORMICK, 23.Melissa BARBIERI (gk).
**2-4 to be omitted**
In: 20. Lia MULDEARY (promoted), 7. Julia SARDO (promoted)
Out:
Unavailable: 4.Chelsea BLISSETT (ACL), 16.Sofia SAKALIS (ACL).
What was said
“We were excited to win (on Sunday) but we haven’t proven anything yet, for us there is a lot more still to show and the true test will be backing it up against Adelaide on Thursday night.”
-Emma Checker, W-League captain
Match details
Westfield W-League Round 5
Adelaide United v Melbourne City FC
Marden Sports Complex
Thursday 21 January, 7.05pm
