Roar Women striker Emily Gielnik is backing her team mates to turn their Westfield W-League season around on Sunday and says the pressure is on the Sydney FC Women to win.
Gielnik has called on the Roar Women to be “fearless” in their clash against the Sky Blues in Gosford (1pm kick off) – a televised match being played as a double header with the Roar’s Hyundai A-League match against Central Coast Mariners.
“We just need to be open minded and play with creativity and have that never giving up mentality,” Gielnik said.
“We’re going in there absolutely fearless and I think that because the team morale hasn’t gone downhill (after five consecutive defeats) could mean that this week is the week to turn it all around.
Gielnik said the Roar Women would play above their underdog status and would benefit from the pressure being on third-placed Sydney.
“We’ve got the chance now to turn everything around and take it to them. Sydney need to stay up there (on the ladder) so they will be throwing everything at us,” she said.
The two clubs have played each other 17 times with the honours shared at six wins each.
The Roar Women go into tomorrow’s clash without New Zealand international midfielder Kirsty Yallop, who is suspended after a red card in the last round 2-0 loss to Canberra United.
Roar Women’s Coach Belinda Wilson has told her players to believe in their team mates and their own ability to get the job done.
Wilson believes the traditional high intensity of games against the Sky Blues can motivate her players to a much-needed win.
“The game against Sydney is always a good one, it’s like a derby match. It’s our State of Origin
in football so the mentality should be right which is the biggest thing,” Wilson said.
“The motivation will be fairly high for the players to play this weekend. I expect it to be a similar match to what we faced against Melbourne City and Canberra United where the team will be up to play the opposition.”
Wilson said her side had created scoring chances in recent games and had been working hard in training on improving their finishing.
“In every game we play there’s always positives we can take away from the game,” she said.
“The game against Canberra I thought we were the better team in the first half but we didn’t finish the opportunities that we created.
“We’ve identified those areas we need to improve on and pretty much that’s what we’ve been working on in the last week or so.
“It’s just a matter of playing our football and putting away the opportunities like we know we can.”
The match will be televised LIVE from 1pm on Fox Sports 505 and ABC TV.
Words by JACOB CHICCO
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Haley Kopmeyer (gk), 3. Amy Chapman, 4. Clare Polkinghorne, 6. Angela Beard, 7. Gabe Marzano, 8. Ayesha Norrie, 9. Cortnee Vine, 10. Katrina Gorry, 12. Alisha Foote, 13. Tameka Butt, 14. Summer O’Brien, 15. Ruth Blackburn, 16. Ashley Spina, 17. Emily Gielnik, 19. Sofie Persson, 20. Carrie Simpson (gk)
Ins: Cortnee Vine, Ashley Spina (both promoted); Outs: Kirsty Yallop (suspended – one week)
Unavailable: Brooke Goodrich (injured)
Sydney FC squad: 1. Michelle Betos (gk), 2. Elizabeth Ralston, 4. Sunny Franco, 5. Jasmyne Spencer, 6. Teresa Polias (c), 7. Nicola Bolger, 8. Amy Harrison, 9. Princess Ibini, 11. Natalie Tobin, 12. Olivia Price, 14. Alanna Kennedy, 15. Teigen Allen, 16. Hannah Bacon, 17. Kyah Simon, 18. Sham Khamis (gk), 19. Leena Khamis
Ins: Natalie Tobin, Hannah Bacon (both promoted); Outs: Ellyse Perry (cricket commitments)
Unavailable: Renee Rollason (knee – 2 weeks)
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