The Perth Glory Women are in the national spotlight this Saturday for a huge clash against Adelaide United in a match that could propel the Glory to within striking distance of the finals.
The Perth Glory Women are in the national spotlight this Saturday for a huge clash against Adelaide United in a match that could propel the Glory to within striking distance of the finals.
The Glory are currently in fifth position, two points out of the top four but crucially, a win could put the team out of the reach of the chasing pack in the race for the finals.
“It is a must win for us this weekend, we want to continue our recent form, play a solid ninety minutes and it-s a game that we go into really wanting to win” said Glory coach John Gibson.
“We were disappointed to drop two points last week (against Canberra), it was one of our best performances for the year, our first half was outstanding. We had a few lapses of concentration in the second half and that cost us.”
The Glory will go into the match with a settled line up and will welcome back young starlet Sam Kerr from national team duties.
“We have a pretty settled line up this week, Sam (Kerr) is back into the squad after her international duties but overall we should be very, very similar in squad composition to the Canberra game” he said.
“We will assess tomorrow when we get to Adelaide and see how Sam has pulled up and how she goes in training. She has done a fair bit of travelling recently so we don-t want to push her too hard.”
“She is an exciting young talent and it-s great to have her back. Whenever she comes on she makes a positive difference to the team.”
Gibson realises that with a short 10-season round, each win is crucial in the teams finals aspirations.
“After this week we are half way through the season. It is a must win game, and going into the next few weeks, the games will get tougher so we need to capitalise this weekend. Most of the Adelaide squad are home grown and very similar to us so it should be a great game” he said.
“The live TV game doesn-t concern us, it-s great that it is at a really good venue at Hindmarsh Stadium, one of the Premier football grounds in the country and is a wonderful opportunity for our players.”
The match against United will be a ‘home- match for Glory ‘keeper Emma Wirkus, who played with the Reds in season one and still resides in the City of Churches.
“Emma has been solid all season, it will be much of the same for her this weekend even against her old side and home state. It doesn-t matter where the game is, she will be solid and a great presence for us at the back” said Gibson.
Perth viewers will be able to watch the match delayed on ABC 1 and ABC HD from 3.00pm AWST.
Westfield W-League 2009 – Rd4
Adelaide United v Perth Glory
Saturday, 24 October 2009, Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Kick-off: 12.00pm WST)
Referee: Jacqui Melksham
Coverage in Perth on ABC1 and ABC HD from 3.00pm AWST
Perth Glory squad: 1. Emma WIRKUS (GK), 3. Carys HAWKINS, 4. Sam KERR, 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 7. Elissia CANHAM, 8. Tanya OXTOBY (C), 9. Dani CALAUTTI, 11. Lisa DE VANNA, 13. Elisa D-OVIDIO, 14. Collette McCALLUM, 15. Alex SINGER, 16. Sadie LAWRENCE, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 18. Ellis GLANFIELD, 20. Zoe PALANDRI
*one to be omitted*
In: Sam KERR (return from national duty)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Adelaide United squad: 1.Sian McLAREN (gk), 2.Ebony WEIDENBACH, 3.Renee HARRISON, 5.Ashlee FAUL, 6.Thomai KEZIOS, 7.Racheal QUIGLEY, 8.Ruth WALLACE 9.Angela FIMMANO, 10.Marijana RAJCIC, 11.Georgia CHAPMAN, 12.Katerina BEXIS, 13.Lauren CHILVERS, 14.Donna COCKAYNE, 15.Tenneille BOALER, 16.Christina PAPAGEORGIOU (c), 17.Karina ROWETH, 18.Rochelle KUHAR, 19. Nenita BURGESS, 20.Kristi HARVEY (gk)
*four to be omitted*
In: Ashlee FAUL (returns from international duty), Ruth WALLACE (returns from international duty), Christina PAPAGEORGIOU (return from injury), Karina ROWETH (return from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Ruth BLACKBURN – injured (season)
