Western United welcomes Melbourne Victory to Ironbark Fields in a competitive game for the first time for Saturday night’s blockbuster Ninja A-League Women derby. Read the Match Preview, presented by Red Bull Australia.
Match Details
Ninja A-League Women Round 17
Western United vs Melbourne Victory
Saturday, 1 March
Kick-off: 6:00pm AEDT
Ironbark Fields, Tarneit
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live and free on 10 Play, and on Paramount+
Western United team news
Catherine Zimmerman is in contention to feature for the first time in a month after fracturing her collarbone against Western Sydney Wanderers in January.
The American striker is named in the extended squad and will be eager to feature against her former side.
Kahli Johnson is set to play her final match for Western United before she departs the Club to join Canadian start-up franchise Calgary Wild FC.
Last time out
Before the international break, Western United played out an entertaining 0-0 draw away from home against Brisbane Roar.
Banishing the demons of the reverse fixture, United was dominant throughout but just couldn’t find the elusive breakthrough, ultimately settling for a point and a confidence-boosting clean sheet.
Previous meetings
Some of Western United’s best days in the Ninja A-League have come against Melbourne Victory, going back to when it all began.
Jessica McDonald’s historic goal in November 2022 secured United a first win in its inaugural match in the competition, setting up three straight wins against its rivals.
Victory finally got their first win in this fixture last time out, so Western United will be eager for revenge in the first-ever instalment of this derby at Ironbark Fields.
Key Matchup: Chloe Logarzo vs Emily Gielnik
This fixture will always shine a light on the two Matildas stars on either side with long-time teammates and friends Chloe Logarzo and Emily Gielnik set to go head-to-head.
Not only will the stature and reputation of each player come to the fore, but their current form is continuing to place them among the competition’s elite.
Logarzo has been on fire for Western with three goals and an assist in her last four matches, taking her goal tally up to seven on the season and just two behind the league leader.
That leader is Gielnik, whose brace before the international break ended a four-game scoreless drought and took her to the top of the standings with nine goals.
Their quality at either end of the pitch will be a treat for everyone to watch at Ironbark Fields, and Logarzo will be particularly motivated to continue her run of form and pick up the three points at home.
Western United Player to Watch: Isabel Dehakiz
Arguably Western United’s form player at the moment, Isabel Dehakiz has been a shining light in her first Ninja A-League season.
The Colombian-American has started seven matches in a row – her first starts since November – and her impact has correlated with the team’s best run of form with three wins, three draws and just one defeat in that time.
While her quality has also been on display at centre-back, it’s in midfield where Dehakiz has done her best work in the last two matches, providing an assist against Sydney FC and dominating the week after against Brisbane Roar.
Dehakiz will have all eyes set on keeping the momentum and putting in another display that carries her side to an important result.
