Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City will host the second legs of their semi-finals against Adelaide United and Central Coast Mariners respectively this weekend, with places in the Grand Final on the line.
Read our preview of all of the action below.
Melbourne Victory (3) v Adelaide United (1)
Date: Saturday, 10 May
Kickoff: 2.15pm AEST
Venue: Home of the Matildas
Broadcast: 10Play, Paramount+, and 10Bold
Tickets: Ticketek
Adelaide United will have to defy history if they are to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second leg and advance to their first-ever A-League Women's Grand Final.
Melbourne Victory take a 3-1 lead into the second leg after a brace to defender Claudia Bunge, both from corners, gave them the advantage. The deficit will limit Adelaide’s options in how they approach the game – they must come out all guns blazing.
It is not out of the realm of possibility. The Reds have shown that they are capable of scintillating attacking football this season and if all three of Erin Healy, Chelsie Dawber and Fiona Worts are available, with one-time CommBank Matilda Emily Condon in midfield behind them, they will be difficult to stop.
However, if they are to pull it off, they will have to beat Victory in Melbourne for the first time since 2015, and they will have to break this Victory team’s 13-game unbeaten streak in the process.
Emily Gielnik, Alana Murphy and Alex Chidiac will all be available for Victory. Matilda McNamara will line up for Adelaide.
Melbourne City (2) v Central Coast Mariners (2)
Date: Sunday, 11 May
Kickoff: 2pm AEST
Venue: ctrl:cyber Pitch
Broadcast: 10Play and Paramount+
Tickets: Ticketbooth
The Central Coast Mariners travel to Melbourne with the tie in the balance, and an unlikely victory against the undefeated premiers well and truly there for the taking.
The Mariners are the only team that City haven’t beaten. The game in Gosford last week was very even, reflecting the closeness between the two teams. They will take a lot of hope that they can overcome City in Melbourne on Sunday.
City will feel that they were slightly hampered by injuries last week. They were missing Lourdes Bosch and Mariana Speckmaier, and Holly McNamara was limited to an appearance of the bench. With the potential return of some of their stars for the home leg they will feel more comfortable about the prospect of sealing the win they need.
McNamara, Leah Davidson, Laura Hughes, Bryleeh Henry and Karly Roestbakken will all be available for Melbourne City.
Jessika Nash is expected to reprise her role as a key defender for the Central Coast Mariners.
