It’s A-Leagues Unite Round, back for a second season, with teams from both the men’s and women’s league taking part in the special round.
This year, Unite Round is being held in Sydney between November 22 and 24, featuring 12 games: six in the A-League Women, and six in the A-league Men.
It’s two games each day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with all the women’s fixtures taking place at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, open free to all football fans, with no ticket required to gain access to the venue.
Existing ticket holders for the previous venue, Leichhardt Oval, are being offered a full refund.
So how did round three fair for the women and what is in store for round four?
Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix
When will Wellington Phoenix get their first win? Paul Temple’s side are dead last after three-straight losses to open the season.
Adding to their woes is a potential injury to captain Annalie Longo. The midfielder was forced out late in their defeat to Newcastle after suffering what appeared to be a facial injury.
She was taken to hospital after a collision with Jets defender Claudio Cicco but scans cleared her of any fracture of concussion.
They will also be without defender Rebecca Lake who has been rules out for the season.
Adelaide on the other hand have been red-hot with last season’s wooden-spooners recording back-to-back wins, driven by star striker Fiona Worts on return to the club.
The early-season form of Worts has been outstanding. The Englishwoman has four goals this campaign after netting with a clinical strike against Canberra on Saturday.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Brisbane Roar
Another matchup between an in-form team and a struggling side.
Brisbane are coming off a 3-0 win over Perth Glory and will be up and about as captain Tameka Yallop is set to break the club’s all-time women’s A-League appearance record on Friday night as she leads her side into battle against Western Sydney Wanderers.
The 33-year-old was the star performer in Brisbane’s second consecutive win of the season, scoring twice to lift the Roar up to fourth spot and continue an encouraging start to the new campaign.
Wanderers had their hearts broken last Saturday in the Sydney derby, against a side they can’t seem to get the better of. They have won just two of 23, their last victory in 2019 and will rue the missed chances that cost them dearly on the weekend.
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory’s Emily Gielnik showed exactly why she deserved a Matildas recall after she stunned Western United with a goal in the opening 12 seconds. The striker did not stop there, going on to complete a first-half half-trick to set up a 4-1 win.
Victory have climbed to second on the table, led by Gielnik, and look extremely dangerous but the second round 3-2 loss to Adelaide shows they are not unbeatable.
Meanwhile Central Coast are fifth but their position on the table is deceptive.
With one win and two draws on the board, the Mariners have played three of last season’s Finals Series entrants – Western United, Sydney FC and Melbourne City.
They’ve beaten champions Sydney and drew to reigning premiers City and look a solid defensive outfit with plenty of attacking threat, led by off-season recruit Brooke Nunn.
Newcastle Jets v Western United
It’s an Elimination Final rematch from 2023-24.
Newcastle were forced to move grounds for the second time in three rounds due to poor field conditions at their No.2 Sportsground home. Made to play their opening round match at Cessnock Sportsground, the Jets again hit the road to play in Maitland – a half hour drive from their inner-city venue.
Captain Cass Davis secured victory when her shot from the left boundary line found the back of the net in the 70th minute of a tightly fought affair with the Nix’.
Western are coming off a heavy defeat to Victory last round but hope to regain captain Chloe Logarzo this weekend after the Matildas midfielder missed due to personal reasons.
Canberra United v Perth Glory
Two sides in which when they meet, it’s certain to be entertaining.
In the 19 times they have faced off, 78 goals have been scored and in the last five matches played, three of the results have been 3-2 while a pair of 2-2 draws have also happened.
After a perfect start to the season, Canberra have now recorded a loss when they were downed by Adelaide.
In the opening two rounds, attacking duo Michelle Heyman and Maja Markovski were significant threats but last weekend they were handled well by Adelaide’s defence.
Now up against a very leaky Perth Glory defence, they might just reignite. Glory have conceded 10 goals in the three games so far; no other team has conceded more than six.
This defence might be bolstered however, with the potential arrival of Matildas goalkeeper Casey Dumont, who signed in the off-season but couldn’t play until the AFLW was finished.
Sydney FC v Melbourne City
Sydney FC avoided their worst start in A-League Women history courtesy of a late goal by 18-year-old forward Caley Tallon-Henniker in a pulsating 1-0 derby win over Western Sydney.
The Sydney derby at Leichhardt Oval had a lot on the line for last season’s ALW championship winners.
The Sky Blues, who lost their grip on the 2023-24 premiership with two shock losses late in the campaign, had lost their opening two matches this season. Never in the club’s history had they been winless after three rounds.
Defending premiers Melbourne City dropped points for the first time this season in a 2-2 draw with Central Coast.
The first goal of the match was scored by City young star Alexia Apostolakis at 3′, which won her Goal of the Week.
Matchday 4 – Schedule AEDT
Friday 22/11
Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix 5.30pm
Western Sydney Wanderers v Brisbane Roar 8.14pm
Saturday 23/11
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory 2.15pm
Newcastle Jets v Western United 5pm
Sunday 24/11
Canberra United v Perth Glory 1.30pm
Sydney FC v Melbourne City 4.15pm
Standings
Teams Win Draw Loss Points
1. Melbourne City 2.1.0.7
2. Melbourne Victory 2.0.1.6
3. Adelaide United 2.0.1.6
4. Brisbane Roar 2.0.1.6
5. Canberra United 2.0.1.6
6. Central Coast 1.2.0.5
7. Newcastle Jets 1.1.1.4
8. Western United 1.1.1.4
9. Sydney 1.0.2.3
10. Perth Glory 1.0.2.3
11. Western Sydney 0.1.2.1
12. Wellington 0.0.3.0
With AAP
