Our Wander Women face a crucial match in their A-League Women’s season as they play Canberra United for the second time in five days.
Membership and ticket details for the match here.
Playing in midweek due to the postponement of the fixture earlier in the season, the Wanderers know a win will see them jump back into the top six and create a three point buffer between them and the chasing pack.
They will also take confidence from their performance against Canberra on Saturday, where they dominated large portions of the match and created many opportunities.
That said, it was looking like they were going to come away from the nation’s capital empty handed, as Nickoletta Flannery’s second half goal looked like it would be enough for Canberra as the game reached its conclusion.
However Maliah Morris came off the bench and scored her first goal for the club with virtually the last kick of the game to secure a vital point for the Wanderers.
It was a deserved share of the spoils for the Wanderers, who had 21 shots to Canberra’s 10, and were only denied more goals by the offside flag and some good goalkeeping from Canberra’s goalkeeper Coco Majstorovic.
Whilst coach Robbie Hooker will be happy with his side’s never say die attitude to clinch the late equaliser, he will desperately want his team to discover the clinical scoring touch that saw the Wanderers go on a four match winning run earlier in the season.
The match is essentially a must-win for the Wanderers, as it is their long awaited game in hand on many of the teams above them, as well as representing the first of three home matches in a row as the season reaches its final stretch.
They will hope Morris will have gained confidence from getting her first goal after injury has disrupted her season; her return to form could be crucial for the side as she will help take the attacking burden off the shoulders of Sophie Harding and Holly Caspers.
Harding was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet on Saturday, and will be desperate to end her run of three matches without a goal.
The last two games have seen a change in tactical set up, with the Wanderers reverting to a back four after playing much of the season with five at the back; captain Amy Harrison has remained at centre-back alongside Vicky Bruce, whilst Maddy McComasky has returned to the starting side at left back.
The defensive performances have largely been strong, with the Wanderers being unfortunate to concede from a set piece on Saturday, and they largely kept the league’s top scorer in Michelle Heyman quiet as she struggled to make an impact.
Saturday’s draw means Canberra still remain bottom of the table on goal difference, though their tally of 33 goals means the Wanderers defence will have to work hard to keep a sixth clean sheet of the season.
The Wanderers have a strong record when playing at Wanderers Football Park this season, winning three of their four matches at the venue, including a notable 2-0 win over the Melbourne Victory in the final game of 2023.
That was also their last match at the venue, with their three home games in 2024 being played in Parramatta, Bathurst and at Marconi Stadium.
The Red and Black will be hoping home comforts can lead them to a priceless midweek victory as they continue their charge to a first finals campaign since 2020.
