THE stage has been set for what Canberra coach Njegosh Popovich believes will be a pulsating final round of the A-League Women season after his side shook up the premiership and playoff race with a 3-0 win over Western United on Saturday.<\/p>\n
With Canberra\u2019s season reinvigorated by news an appeal to overturn a forfeit defeat against Sydney had been upheld, two goals from Vesna Milivojevic and a strike from Chengshu Wu ensured the home side departed City Vista Reserve inside the ALW’s top four.<\/p>\n
Melbourne Victory can relegate them back to fifth on Sunday, but the win ensures Canberra, who marked striker Michelle Heyman becoming the all-time ALW leader in appearances with a win, has something to play for against Melbourne City in the final round of the season next week.<\/p>\n
“They have been focused, our whole coaching staff have been working on making sure they stay focused,” Popovic said.<\/p>\n
“We kept the girls true to themselves, they kept working hard and\u2026 now they’re reaping the rewards.<\/p>\n
“We’re not going to get any fitter, we’re not going to get any stronger, we’re just going to try and get them focused with their mindset.<\/p>\n
“It sets up a fantastic final round.”<\/p>\n
Placed in control of the premiership race by that redistribution of three points from Sydney FC back to Canberra, Western could have guaranteed a premiership in their maiden ALW campaign with back-to-back wins in the season’s final two weeks.<\/p>\n
Instead, Saturday’s loss swings the advantage back to the Sky Blues, whose win over Adelaide in a simultaneous kick-off ensures they can secure a third straight premiership with victories in remaining games against Perth and Newcastle.<\/p>\n
Western is still guaranteed a top-two finish regardless of their result against Western Sydney next week but now haven’t won a game on the pitch or scored a goal since February.<\/p>\n
“It’s not doom and gloom but we have to start fixing some things and make sure that we’re ready to play finals,” said coach Mark Torcaso.<\/p>\n
“We know we haven’t scored and that we’ve leaked goals, it’s a matter of fixing those two areas.”<\/p>\n
Western, however, are set to be boosted by the return of Matildas’ midfielder Chloe Logarzo, who re-signed with the club on Friday after terminating her contract with NWSL side Kansas City.<\/p>\n
Torcaso is hopeful Logarzo will play against Western Sydney, as will Emma Robers, who was forced from the field with a knock.<\/p>\n