Ante Juric’s Sky Blue side will venture to McKellar Park on Saturday afternoon to take on Canberra United in a crucial round 17 match-up.
Since their draw with the league leaders Melbourne City last weekend, the Liberty A-League squad remain in third place on the ladder. However, they will need to bring home three points this weekend if they wish to remain in the hunt for the Premiers Plate.
Sydney FC have been in top form, remaining undefeated for the last four rounds. Young gun Maddie Caspers netted three goals consecutively across three weeks prior to last weekend, and Cortnee Vine also had her fair share of success in attack, securing three goals for the Sky Blues in the past four matches.
On the other hand, Canberra United have lost two out of last three games, but their 2-2 draw against Perth Glory last weekend shows they are no opponent for the faint hearted. Matildas striker Michelle Heyman dominated the attacking front, scoring once in the opening ten minutes and scoring once again in the second half adding salt to Perth’s wound.
One’s To Watch: Matildas Edition
Two Matildas stars will face-off this weekend as their sides fight to bring home a win ahead of the looming finals period.
Jada Whyman and Michelle Heyman have been nothing short of influential for their respective sides during the 2023/2024 season. Both players have proven their dominance on the field and will leave no stone left unturned this weekend.
Last week it was announced that Sky Blue goalkeeper Jada Whyman had been selected to represent Australia in a two-match series for round three of the AFC Women’s Paris 2024 Olympic Qualifiers. With 14 caps under her belt for Junior, Youth, and Matildas Under 20 squads, Whyman will be looking to make her full international debut. Whyman is one of the strongest Liberty A-League players on the field, holding the most clean sheets for the season and widely regarded as the best keeper in the competition.
Michelle Heyman will be a player to watch this weekend after dominating the scoresheet this season. Like Whyman, she was called into the recent Matildas squad for the Olympic qualifiers. In 15 matches alone, Heyman has scored 12 goals and has five assists.
Over a 16-year career, Heyman has scored 106 goals, and is the league’s all-time record goal scorer since netting her 73rd goal during the 2021 W-League season. She has 61 caps for the Matildas and will look to make her first international appearance in six years.
Head-To-Head 2023/2024 Season:
| 3-5-7 | CAN – RECORD – SYD | 7-6-3 |
| 9-4-11 | H2H | 11-4-9 |
| 6-3-3 | H2H in CANBERRA | 3-3-6 |
| 46.0{98698ff7ed92b99d4e0cecdfdc9e4dccf4922e0a04ff9db373daf4aa83b73fe2} | POSSESSION PG | 46.5{98698ff7ed92b99d4e0cecdfdc9e4dccf4922e0a04ff9db373daf4aa83b73fe2} |
| 2.0 | GOALS SCORED PG | 1.2 |
| 2.2 | GOALS CONCEDED PG | 0.8 |
| 10.5 | SHOTS PG | 16.8 |
| 4.5 | SHOTS ON TARGET PG | 6.8 |
| 0 | CLEAN SHEETS | 7 |
| 5.5 | SAVES PG | 2.5 |
| 239 | PASSES PG | 256 |
| 1.0 | YELLOW CARDS PG | 1.7 |
| 1 | RED CARDS | 0 |
How Sydney FC Can Win:
The Sky Blues currently have a 45.8{98698ff7ed92b99d4e0cecdfdc9e4dccf4922e0a04ff9db373daf4aa83b73fe2} success rate against Canberra United after 26 games in A-League Women’s history.
With Jada Whyman holding the most clean sheets for the season, it will be difficult for Canberra to dash past the likes Jordan Thompson and Charlotte McLean.
If the Harbour City club can put pressure on their opponents weak spots, the speed of Princess Ibini and Cortnee Vine will be able to swiftly make their way through Canberra’s back line of defence.
How Canberra United Can Win:
Despite the challenges that will arise on Saturday evening, Canberra United could potentially snatch the win from the Sky Blues with their attacking flare.
Canberra United have sharp attacking players, and when given the right opportunity, they know how to capitalise. The partnership between Heyman and Nickola Flannery in the offensive end has been clinical. Between the two players, they have accumulated 15 goals this season.
Last Time Out:
The Sky Blues and Canberra United last met in early January this year drawing 1-1. Sydney FC were first to draw blood after a strike from Aideen Keane scrapped past the finger tips of Canberra goalkeeper, Chloe Lincoln. Despite their early success, Michelle Heyman levelled the score a mere 10 minutes later, bypassing Sydney FC defence.
The Sky Blues had a very dominant second half but were unable to find another way past Chloe Lincoln as she made a number of quality saves to keep her side in the contest.
Team News:
Shea Connors will hopefully make a return over the coming weeks after recovering from a broken foot after she was named in the extended squad. The Sky Blues will continue to forgo Fiona Worts and Nat Tobin as they recover from long term injuries. Caley Tallon-Henniker has also been included in the squad after she signed a deal this week.
Match Details:
Canberra United v Sydney FC
Liberty A-League Round 17
Saturday 17th February, 2024
McKellar Park, Canberra, ACT
Kick Off: 5:00PM
Broadcast Live: Paramount + and 10Play
Tickets: Click Here