COACHESCOMMENTS
Good afternoon and welcome back to McKellar Park for the penultimate match of the Ninja A-League regular season as we extend our greetings to our old foes from up the Hume Highway in Sydney FC. Games against the Sky Blues always resonate that little bit more for our players, and our supporters, with this being one of our derby matches that we all look forward to. Circumstances beyond the control of either team meant that the first clash between the teams this season was curtailed after just 54 minutes, but we know we will need to perform at a level that was higher than we showed that evening if we are to come away with all three points today. With plenty of our squad having previous with our opponents, there is no need for added motivation, but the fact that the potential of finals football is still within our grasp should be more fuel to add to the fire should we need it. These kind of fixtures are important for all, the added impetus of getting one over an old rival is simply a bonus, and the team will be prepared for what is expected to be a tough encounter. As ever the home support is crucial. We say it all the time, but the noise that you create really does help propel the team over the line. We ask for your backing again today as we seek important points in our quest to make the top six and play in the end-of-season finals.
Antoni Jagarinec, Head Coach
CLUB HONOURS BOARD
PREMIERS (3)
2011/12, 2013/14, 2016/17
CHAMPIONS (2) 2011/12, 2014
SEENINGREEN:SALLYSHIPARD
An absolute legend of the game in this country, Matildas international Sally Shipard is a name that needs little introduction to fans of both Canberra United and the national team. A member of the Matildas team that competed in the 2007 and the 2011 FIFA World Cups, she was an integral part of the team that also won the 2010 AFC Asian Cup in China, holding their nerve to defeat North Korea on penalties in the Final at Chengdu Sports Centre. Growing up in Wagga Wagga, football was always a big part of Shipard’s life, playing for Canberra rep teams before signing for United in 2009 and helping the team to the double of league title and Grand Final in 2012. Capped 59 times at international level, netting four goals, she ended her United career in 2014 with 30 appearances under her belt.
PLAYERPROFILE
Date of Birth: 20/10/1997
Place of Birth: Tumut, NSW
Position: Midfielder
Clubs: Canberra United, Bayer Leverkusen
International Honours: Australia (59 caps, 4 goals)
Canberra United Apps: 30
Canberra United Goals: 3
VISITINGTODAY:SYDNEYFC
A foundation club and wearing their infamous sky-blue kit, Sydney FC are well known for their success. In fact, they are the most successful side in league history. They’ve never finished lower than fourth place in the league, playing finals every single season of the A-League Womens competition and, more often than not, hoovering up the trophies on a regular basis. Sickeningly for those with green at heart, the Sky Blues have reached the last seven Grand Final deciders, winning three of them and, overall, have been involved in the big day itself no fewer than eleven times. A quite phenomenal record of consistency and quality. They are, of course, seeking a three-peat having won the last two Grand Finals. A host of big names have left the club in the off-season, but in classic Sydney fashion, they have brought in replacements that are more than capable. Perhaps the biggest loss for the Sky Blues is that of Matildas star Cortnee Vine, replacing her goals, creativity, and spark that illuminated Sydney FC matches last season will be tricky. But as we have all come to learn, you never write this team off.
DIDYOUKNOW?
Sydney have won a total of 10 trophies, more than anyone in the league, claiming the Premiers crown and Champions title five time each. **********************
They have played in the last seven grand finals, having won three of them.
They have only had three managers in their time, with current boss Ante Juric having been in the role since 2017.
CLUB HONOURS BOARD
PREMIERS (5)
2009, 2010/11, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23
CHAMPIONS (5)
2009, 2012/13, 2018/19, 2022/23, 2023/24
THERIVALRYIN100WORDS
Arguably our biggest rivals, with that classic Canberra versus Sydney debate that everyone loves, there have been a total of 25 games in the fixture to date. Results are fairly even, with Canberra having won 9 times and Sydney 11. While Sydney have been dominant in the league in recent years, they have not beat the mighty Canberra since 2022. While it didn’t stop them from ultimately winning the grand final, the Canberra win in the rescheduled Round 17 clash last season prevented Sydney from winning the league title as well. You can not be upset with that at all.
ONETOWATCH MILLIEFARROW
Millie Farrow joins the reigning Liberty A-League champions off the back of a 2023-24 campaign which saw her bag seven goals and four assists from 22 matches with Perth Glory. The 28-yearold striker boasts plenty of experience on her resume when it comes to scoring goals and winning trophies, having won the double during her time at Women’s Super League giants Chelsea FC whilst also enjoying spells with Crystal Palace, Reading, Bristol City and Leicester City. She secured promotion with Leicester City and after a stint with Crystal Palace, she moved to North Carolina Courage, and is now lighting up the league in her new colours.
MATCHACTION:MELBOURNECITY
A goal from Aideen Keane earned Canberra United what might prove to be a priceless point against championship chasing Melbourne City in an entertaining 1-1 draw at McKellar Park, Canberra 1 draw in succession. Keane struck with ten minutes remaining of the match in which the league leaders recorded an eighteenth game unbeaten.
City broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second-half. From a set-piece, chaos ensured inside the penalty area, City’s Taylor Otto deflecting the ball goalwards where, in attempting to clear the ball away, goalkeeper James, who was otherwise brilliant, was only able to inadvertently help it on into the net. With 10 minutes remaining United levelled with the kind of goal that was down to sheer persistence. A long ball over the top sent Keane away and the fleet-footed forward got to the ball ahead of Mieres, chipping the ‘keeper and then winning the physical footrace with the City defender to force the ball over the line.
SATURDAY8FEBRUARY,2025
BUSINESSUNITEDSQUAD
Canberra United extend its thanks to our 2024/25 Business United Squad members. To join our club contact: ceo@capitalfootball.com.au
LASTTIMEWEMETHERE
Wednesday 27 March 2024
Canberra United 1 (Heyman 56’) Sydney FC 0 The champagne was put on ice for Sydney FC as Michelle Heyman came off the substitutes bench to snaffle a second-half match-winner and secure a memorable Canberra United victory in the Hume Derby, a 1-0 result that meant the Sky Blues are forced to wait for any potential Liberty A-League Premiers coronation, which they achieved a week or so later. Chloe Lincoln was named Captain for the first time in her career as regular skipper Michelle Heyman started from the bench and was forced into the first save of the afternoon in only the third minute, plunging low to her right to block from Caley Tallon-Henniker. Popovich introduced Heyman and Sofia Christopherson at the interval and it didn’t take long for United’s leading scorer to make her mark, Heyman flicking a near-post finish just the wrong side of the upright following excellent approach work from Whittall. And it was Heyman that, against the run of play gave Canberra the lead in the 56th minute. Jackson initiated it with a driving run at the heart of the Sky Blues teeing up Vesna Milivojevic for a shot at goal. The Serbian midfielder’s effort was sweetly hit, forcing Whyman into a save, but the visiting ‘keeper was unable to hold onto the ball and, with Heyman loitering with intent six yards from goal, which proved to be a mistake, the forward sweeping home to the rebound from close range for her sixteenth goal of the season. Sydney FC threw everything they could at United but Lincoln was in inspired form.
MATCHACTION:VICTORY
Two goals in the final twenty minutes saw Canberra United fall to a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Melbourne Victory at the Home of the Matildas. There were two for Canberra from the team that earned a point against Melbourne City as Tegan Bertolissio was recalled at fullback in place of Sofia Christopherson, whilst there was a switch in midfield with Emma Robers coming into the starting team in place of Holly Murray.
Victory struck through one of their substitutes with twenty minutes remaining. Holly Furphy, who added bite and pace to the front third, showed superb persistence to bustle past Bertolissio and slide a finish through the legs of James at the near post from an acute angle. James then made a smart save from Furphy moments later, before Victory sealed the points with seven minutes remaining. A corner from the far side swept in by Alana Murphy found Emily Gielnik at the near post who, with a thumping header, steered the ball past James for her tenth goal of the season, a lead in the Golden Boot race and the points. The defeat ended United’s unbeaten run of six matches.
HOWTHEYSTAND:2024/25
FIXTURES&RESULTS
R1: Brisbane Roar (h) W 3-2 (Markovski 15’, 56’, Stanic-Floody 31’)
R2: Wellington Phoenix (a) W 1-0 (Heyman 11’)
R3: Adelaide United (h) L 0-2
R4: Perth Glory (h) D 1-1 (Stanic-Floody 69’)
R5: Central Coast Mariners (a) L 1-2 (Markovski 38’)
R6: Melbourne City (a) L 2-4 (Heyman 12’, 89’)
R7: Melbourne Victory (h) L 0-2
R8: Newcastle Jets (h) D 0-0
R10: Brisbane Roar (a) W 2-1 (Robers 81, Heyman 88’)
R11: Western United (h) W 2-1 (Mihocic (21’ (og), Christopherson 50’)
R9: Sydney FC (a) L 0-2
R12: Western Sydney Wanderers (h) W 1-0 (Khamis 45’ (og))
R13: Newcastle Jets (a) W 2-1 (Christopherson 24’, Heyman 29’)
R14: Perth Glory (h) W 1-0 (Anton 56’)
R15: Central Coast Mariners (h) D 1-1 (Heyman 46’)
R16: Adelaide United (a) D 1-1 (Malone 44’)
R17: Melbourne City (h) D 1-1 (Keane 80’)
R18: Melbourne Victory (a) L 0-2
R19: Western United (a) L 3-4 (Gordon 12’, Ayson 53’, Stanic-Floody 65’)
MAR 23, R20: Sydney FC (h)
MAR 29, R21: Perth Glory (a)
APR 13, R22: Wellington Phoenix (h)
APR 20, R23: Western Sydney Wanderers (a)
GOALSCORERS
6: Michelle HEYMAN, 3: Maja MARKOVSKI, Mary STANIC-FLOODY
2: Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON, Own GOALS
1: Elizabeth ANTON, Madison AYSON, Bethany GORDON, Aideen KEANE, Darcey MALONE, Emma ROBERS
ONTHESTAGETODAY
1. Sally JAMES
2. Alex MCKENZIE
3. Elizabeth ANTON
4. Holly MURRAY
5. Madison AYSON
6. Ivana GALIC
7. Jynaya DOS SANTOS
8. Tianah MIRO
9. Ruby NATHAN
CANBERRAUNITED V
SYDNEYFC
1. Brianna EDWARDS
2. Margaux CHAUVET
3. Faye BRYSON
4. Tori TUMETH
5. Kristy FENTON
6. Shay HOLLMAN
7. Millie FARROW
8. Hana LOWRY
9. Shea CONNORS
12. Natalie TOBIN
10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY
11. Emma ROBERS
12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG
13. Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON
17. Maja MARKOVSKI
18. Coco MAJSTOROVIC
19. Jaya BOWMAN
20. Lillian SKELLY
21. Aideen KEANE
23. Michelle HEYMAN
24. Georgia RITCHIE
25. Darcey MALONE
28. Tegan BERTOLISSIO
32. Bethany GORDON
Head Coach: Antoni JAGARINEC
13. Jasmine BLACK
14. Abbey LEMON
15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY
16. Jordan THOMPSON
17. Kyah SIMON
18. Amber LUCHTMEIJER
20. Princess IBINI
21. Lucy JOHNSON
22. Indiana DOS SANTOS
23. Rubi SULLIVAN
24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER
26. Madeleine CASPERS
30. Tahlia FRANCO
Head Coach: Ante JURIC
TODAY’S OFFICIALS
The Match Officials were unavailable at the time of going to print. Please listen to the PA Announcements at the ground today for confirmation of the Match Officials.