Western United won’t travel far for it’s first away match in the 2024/25 Ninja A-League Women season, locking horns with rivals Melbourne Victory in a local derby on Sunday. Read our Match Preview, presented by Red Bull Australia.
Match Details
Ninja A-League Women Round 3
Melbourne Victory vs Western United
Sunday, 17 November
Kick-off: 4:00pm AEDT
The Home of the Matildas, Bundoora
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live and free on 10 Play, and on Paramount+
Western United Team News
Western United defender Sasha Grove will make history as the fifth-youngest player to reach 50 Ninja A-League Women appearances.
After making her debut last week, Sara Eggesvik will be hoping to start for the first time in her new colours while Alana Cortellino returns to the extended squad in search of her professional debut.
Captain Chloe Logarzo will miss this clash due to personal reasons, and everyone at Western United congratulates her after getting married during the week.
Western United squad: 1. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (gk), 2. Emily ROACH, 5. Aimee MEDWIN, 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO, 8. Sasha GROVE, 9. Sara EGGESVIK, 10. Kahli JOHNSON, 11. Sandra IBARGUEN, 13. Avaani PRAKASH, 16. Melissa TARANTO, 18. Grace MAHER, 19. Alana CORTELLINO, 20. Keiwa HIEDA, 22. Alana CERNE, 24. Julia SARDO, 28. Isabel DEHAKIZ, 34. Catherine ZIMMERMAN, 36. Chloe LINCOLN (gk)
Previous Meetings
Western United has enjoyed a dream run of form against Melbourne Victory in the Ninja A-League, winning all three of the previous meetings.
The first came in United’s debut in the competition when Jessica McDonald scored that historic goal at City Vista.
A pair of triumphs followed last year, one courtesy of a late winner from Keiwa Hieda and the other being a rampant 4-1 win at The Home of the Matildas.
Key Matchup: Alana Cerne vs Emily Gielnik
Emerging as a vice-captain for the first time this season, Alana Cerne continues to elevate her game to greater heights.
After missing just one game in the Club’s inaugural season, Cerne played every single minute of the 2023/24 campaign and followed suit in the first two games of this season.
The 21-year-old continues to impress with her all-round ability at centre-back – whether it be one-on-one defending, intercepting play, winning aerial duels or driving the play forward with her feet, she has just about everything in her repertoire.
Cerne will have her hands full on Sunday when she comes up against Victory’s Emily Gielnik, fresh off scoring three goals across the first two rounds and being recalled into the Matildas squad this week.
Gielnik’s height, strength and deadly finishing make her one of the most lethal attackers in the competition, and Cerne will be eager to win the battle and set her team up for victory.
Western United Player to Watch: Catherine Zimmerman
After missing out on both meetings last season, this match will be the first time Catherine Zimmerman faces off against her old side.
Zimmerman scored 14 goals in 39 games for Victory and won two Championships, but there will be no room for sentiment when the whistle blows on Sunday afternoon.
The American attacker has reached full fitness and made an excellent start to the season, providing an assist in the opening round and delivering a superb performance against Central Coast Mariners last week.
Two-footed, quick, deadly in front of goal and committed in every phase of play, Zimmerman remains one of the very best strikers in the Ninja A-League and will eager to impress against her former employers.
