Sydney FC Women are set to return to their spiritual home of Leichhardt Oval this Sunday afternoon, taking on league leaders Melbourne City FC in a Grand Final re-match for what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
It will mark the Sky Blues’ first game at the iconic venue since their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers in mid-November.
Head Coach Ante Juric believes returning to the venue which has been a fortress for the club in recent years brings a sense of optimism to the squad, with its vibrant atmosphere often lifting the team to victory.
“Playing at Leichhardt is special for us,” Juric said. “We seem to get a good crowd, and it’s a good atmosphere.
“Last year, the fans were huge in terms of getting us over the line in a few games. It could just be the spark we need to get the momentum going again.”
Despite a challenging season, Juric remains confident about his team’s ability to turn their fortunes around highlighting their resilience and determination.
“City is obviously top of the ladder, and last week Victory was up there when we played them, so it has been tough, but it’s down to us and how we handle it,” he said.
“Every game is just a game, a chance for us to get out of this little slump.
“I’m definitely confident we’re not far off,” he stated. “There are 42 points left to play for. It doesn’t look great right now, but I believe in this team.
“Sometimes in life, things aren’t going your way, but if you keep giving it a crack, it usually turns around.”
Juric remains a firm believer in hard work paying off.
“I’m a big believer that if you just keep working hard, things will turn around. Sometimes it doesn’t happen straight away, but you can’t give up.
“The girls have been training hard, and while the games have been tough, there are positives to take from our recent performances.”
Sydney FC Women arguably played their best football of the season in their previous encounter with Melbourne City, showcasing their potential to challenge the league’s top sides.
Juric noted the narrow margins that have defined their recent matches, including a tight loss to Melbourne Victory last week.
“Against Victory, we gave away a penalty that probably shouldn’t have been a penalty, and we lose 1-0 in a game that was quite tight,” Juric said.
“That’s a team in the top two. When I look at that, there’s a lot of positives. But we need to stop giving away simple opportunities because our luck isn’t great at the moment.”
Shay Hollman is once again missing from the Sky Blues line-ups along with Kyah Simon who is still a little way off returning. Hana Lowry and fellow ACL knee injury victim Kirsty Fenton are also sidelined.
