Brisbane Roar Head Coach Belinda Wilson has predicted an open, attacking encounter when her side hosts Canberra United in tomorrow morning’s Westfield W-League match at Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.
Brisbane Roar Head Coach Belinda Wilson has predicted an open, attacking encounter when her side hosts Canberra United in tomorrow morning-s Westfield W-League match at Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.
Top place Roar need a win to make sure they finish at the summit of the competition ladder, given the likelihood that second-placed Melbourne Victory and third-placed Perth Glory will pick up points.
For Canberra, who just snuck into the top four with a midweek 5-0 thumping of Western Sydney Wanderers, only three points will do if they want to a chance at defending their Westfield W-League crown.
Brisbane travelled to the nation-s capital in the opening round and played out a 0-0 draw with the current champions but Wilson said she expected a much different approach in their final match of the season tomorrow.
“I think tomorrow-s game will be interesting, more exciting and attacking-minded than round one,” she said.
“In round one, both teams were quite defensive-minded, checking each other out so tomorrow should be more open and exciting.”
No current injuries means Wilson has a full squad to choose from and she admits she-s happy with both the form and fitness of her players.
“We-ve been blessed, having no injuries and those players who were injured are now hitting their peaks,” she said.
“As a team we are hitting our peak as well which is great heading into finals.”
Roar-s Tameka Butt will play her 50th Westfield W-League match against United tomorrow, reaching an incredible ratio with her match/game balance.
Heading into the Canberra game, Butt has scored 25 goals in the competition in just 49 appearances – an impressive statistic for a player who is not renowned as an out-and-out striker but an attacking midfielder who also sets up goals.
Brisbane Roar v Canberra United
Saturday 12 January 2013
Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre
Local kick-off: 10.30am
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Hoshimi KISHI (gk), 2. Laura ALLEWAY, 3. Amy CHAPMAN, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE, 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Ashley SPINA, 7. Erika ELZE, 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 9. Emma PITTMAN, 10. Lana HARCH, 11. Vedrana POPOVIC, 12. Rebecca PRICE, 13. Tameka BUTT, 14. Georgia CHAPMAN, 15. Hannah BEARD, 16. Sachiko TATSUOKA, 17. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Kate STEWART (gk), 19. Katrina GORRY, 20. Joanne BUCKLEY (gk) *five to be omitted*
Ins: 9. Emma PITTMAN, 10, Lana HARCH, 12. Rebecca PRICE, 14. Georgia CHAPMAN, 20. Joanne BUCKLEY (gk) (all promoted)
Outs: None
Unavailable: None
Canberra United squad: 1. Mackenzie Arnold, 2. Caitlin Cooper, 3. Georgia Yeoman-Dale, 4. Christine Walters, 5. Grace Field, 6. Caitlin Munoz, 7. Ellie Brush, 8. Hayley Raso, 9. Grace Gill, 10. Snez Veljanovska, 11. Michelle Heyman, 12. Sally Rojahn, 13. Nicole Sykes, 16. Catherine Brown, 17. Ariane Hingst, 18. Samantha Wood, 19. Jennifer Bisset, 20. Trudy Burke, 23. Kristen Mewis * four to be omitted*
In: Christine Walters, Grace Field, Snez Veljanovska, Sally Rojahn,
Out: None
Unavailable: 14. Ashleigh Sykes (quad – season), 15. Sally Shipard (knee – season)
