Goalkeeper Lily Alfeld has vowed that Glory will empty the tank in a bid to secure a first win of the Westfield W-League campaign at the expense of Canberra United at Viking Park on Friday (kick-off at 3.05pm WST).
United were due to visit Dorrien Gardens on Thursday before the venue and date were changed due to the women in green having played Melbourne Victory less than a fortnight ago and therefore being subject to a two-week quarantine should they enter WA.
But despite having to deal with yet another tough piece of scheduling, Alfeld feels that Glory can take heart from the 1-1 draw they picked up in the nation’s capital back in Round 5.
“That game will definitely give us the confidence that if we play well and execute everything in the game plan, we can get something out of it,” she said.
“We’re all hungry for that win and will fight to the very end to get something out of it.
“We feel that with all the effort we’ve put in this season, we deserve more than we’ve received and it would nice to get some reward for all that effort.
“We’re hungry to prove that we don’t deserve to be at the bottom of the table.”
Despite Glory’s defensive struggles in recent weeks, Alfled has continued to produce a string of spectacular saves and the 25-year-old New Zealander feels that the experience of her maiden W-League campaign is standing her in good stead.
“It’s never easy letting that many through, especially in the last three games,” she said, “but at the end of every game, I feel as if I’ve learned a lot from it.
“So as long as I can go on to the next game and put in a performance that’s better than my performance in the previous game, I’ll be pleased.
“I’d love to keep a clean sheet for the team, though, because I’ve been a bit disappointed with the number of goals we’ve been conceding.”
So what differences has Alfeld detected between the W-League and the New Zealand National Women’s competition where she most recently represented Auckland Football Federation?
“The pace,” she said.
“Everything is so much quicker and you have to be a lot more switched on all the time.
“Mentally that makes it a lot more taxing; that’s been the biggest thing I’ve noticed.”
Alfeld and her Glory teammates will face a Canberra outfit which secured a shock 4-1 win over previously-unbeaten Brisbane Roar in their most recent outing, a result which lifted Vicki Linton’s side to fifth on the ladder.
In terms of early team news, meanwhile, forward Katarina Jukic is set to return to the Glory squad having missed Tuesday’s defeat at the hands of the Jets.
Match Details
Friday, 12 March 2021
Canberra United v Perth Glory
Viking Park, Tuggeranong
Kick-Off: 3:05pm (WST)(6:05pm (Local))
Referee: Lara Lee
Assistant Referee 1: Mi Suk Park
Assistant Referee 2: Delfina Dimoski
Fourth Official: Georgia Ghirardello
Stream Broadcast: Live coverage on Kayo Sports (www.kayosports.com.au) and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvCBR
To purchase tickets visit www.w-league.com.au/tickets
Perth Glory squad: 1.Lily ALFELD (GK), 2.Sarah CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY (C), 5.Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE, 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 7.Elizabeth ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Malia STEINMETZ, 10.Alexia MORENO, 11.Patricia CHARALAMBOUS, 12.Sarah MORGAN, 13.Jamie-Lee GALE, 14.Caitlin DOEGLAS, 17.Marianna TABAIN, 20.Rebecca BENNETT (GK), 23.Katarina JUKIC
Ins: 23.Katarina JUKIC (promoted)
Outs: 18.Taneesha BAKER (omitted)
Unavailable: 3.Gemma CRAINE (hamstring – season)
Canberra United squad: 1.Keeley RICHARDS (gk), 2.Emma ILIJOSKI,4.Kendall FLETCHER (c), 5.Lauren KEIR, 6.Bianca GALIC, 7.Rachael GOLDSTEIN, 8.Laura HUGHES, 9.Demi KOULIZAKIS, 10.Grace MAHER, 12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG 13.Paige SATCHELL, 14.Jessie RASSCHAERT, 15.Jessika NASH, 18.Isabella FOLETTA, 19.Nicki FLANNERY, 20.Sasha GROVE, 22. Sally JAMES (gk), 23.Michelle HEYMAN
** 2 to be omitted **
Ins: 18.Isabella FOLETTA (promoted), 20.Sasha GROVE (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 11.Ashlie CROFTS (leg – indefinite), 3.Clare HUNT (foot – 1 week)
(picture courtesy of Fotoenzo)
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