Adelaide host the league leaders Melbourne City, strugglers Perth and Western Sydney meet, Wellington hopes to make history, Brisbane travel to play Newcastle in a potential thriller, Matildas stars go head-to-head as Canberra host Melbourne Victory while Central Coast and Western United look to bounce back.
Adelaide United v Melbourne City
Melbourne City are the only team still undefeated heading into round seven and can anyone stop them?
Fellow top four team Adelaide will look to have a crack but history is against them as they have lost their last six games against City dating back to January 2021.
They’ll also be without Matilda McNamara while the star-studded City line-up has been boosted with the return of Holly McNamara from a 13-month lay-off after her third ACL tear.
Her return came in the 70th minute of a hard-fought win against Canberra United last Sunday.
City had to fight back from an outbreak of gastro and going a goal down to claim a 4-2 win and stay top of the league.
Adelaide are enjoying a much better season than last, despite last week’s knockback 3-1 loss to Perth Glory.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory
Western Sydney ended their winless streak in emphatic fashion last week, claiming a 5-1 win over Western United.
Sienna Saveska stole the show at CommBank Stadium with a first-half hat-trick, before Cushla Rue and Danika Matos added a goal each to seal their first win of the new season.
It was the most goals scored by the Wanderers since a 5-0 demolition of rivals Sydney FC in 2019.
They still sit at the bottom of the table but will have some confidence as they face 10th placed Glory.
Perth kept in touch with the top six by snagging a 3-1 win over Adelaide.
Glory are the travelling team for this one, they have not won away against the Wanderers since 2019.
In their recent meetings, WSW have won the past two games and are unbeaten in three.
Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC
Wellington are looking to beat Sydney on home soil for the first time ever when they host the defending champions on Saturday.
Since the Nix’ entered the competition in 2021-22, they have beat the Sky Blues once away from home last year.
The New Zealand team are in good form, on a three-game unbeaten streak including a 1-1 draw against Melbourne Victory last week.
Alana Jancevski’s 51st-minute penalty looked set to be enough to seal all three points for Victory and send them to the top of the ladder.
But the Phoenix refused to give up, and levelled the scores in the 91st minute when 19-year-old Manaia Elliott thundered home a header.
Sydney on the other hand are struggling with just one win this season.
Last Saturday, the reigning champs were stunned by a 10-player Newcastle outfit, losing 2-1.
On a positive note, Princess Ibini featured in her 146th match to become Sydney’s games record-holder.
Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar
This one has all the makings to be a thriller.
Newcastle are coming off an exciting 2-1 win over Sydney where Lauren Allan scored in the final minute.
They were forced to play one player down for more than an hour after goalkeeper Danielle Krzyzaniak was sent off for fouling Ibini outside the box in the 12th minute.
A Tameka Yallop-inspired Brisbane Roar are hot on City’s heels after claiming a 2-1 win over Central Coast.
Yallop scored an 80th-minute winner, four minutes after Mariners teenager Tiana Fuller had cancelled out Deborah-Anne De la Harpe’s opener.
The red-hot Matildas star, and teammate Sharn Freier, returned to the ALW after missing Brisbane’s loss to Wellington through international duties.
Canberra United v Melbourne Victory
This one is massive. Both teams want to return to the winners list, Canberra to stay in touch with the top six and Melbourne to keep themselves entrenched in the top six.
It’ll also see two Matildas stars face off in Michelle Heyman and Emily Gielnik, which should be good watching.
Heyman is coming off a two-goal game in Canberra’s 4-2 loss to City while Gielnik co-leads the Golden Boot race with six goals.
United haven’t won in four games (a draw and three losses) while Victory haven’t lost in that same stretch (two wins and two draws).
Victory were stunned last Friday by a stoppage-time equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Wellington.
A win would have seen them sit top of the table.
Central Coast Mariners v Western United
Both the Mariners and Western head into the matchup on the back of defeats – Central Coast were edged out by Brisbane 2-1, while Western were swept aside 5-1 by the Wanderers.
The only United score was a 64th-minute goal by Chloe Logarzo, the Matildas star scoring after Ella Buchanan gave away a handball penalty.
The Mariners are lamenting after they had a good chance to defeat the high-flying Brisbane.
Teenager Tiana Fuller had cancelled out Deborah-Anne De la Harpe’s opener but the Roar scored again in the 80th minute.
Both Western and Mariners will be looking to bounce back.
Matchday 7 – Schedule AEDT
Friday 20/12
Adelaide United v Melbourne City 4.50pm
Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory 7pm
Saturday 21/12
Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC 2pm
Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar 5pm
Canberra United v Melbourne Victory 5pm
Sunday 22/12
Central Coast Mariners v Western United 5pm
Standings
Teams Win Draw Loss Points
1. Melb City 4.2.0.14
2. Brisbane Roar 4.0.2.12
3. Melb Victory 3.2.1.11
4. Adelaide Utd 3.0.3.9
5. Central Coast 2.3.1.9
6. Newcastle 2.2.2.8
7. Western Utd 2.2.2.8
8. Wellington 2.1.3.7
9.Canberra Utd 2.1.3.7
10. Perth Glory 2.1.3.7
11. Sydney FC 1.1.4.4
12. Western Sydney 1.1.4.4
With AAP
