Melbourne City\u2019s A-League Women\u2019s finals campaign has been rocked with confirmation Nigerian forward Chinaza Uchendu must serve a season-ending suspension for lashing out against the Wanderers last month.<\/p>\n
As premiers City prepare for Saturday\u2019s first leg of their semi-final with Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park, Football Australia confirmed the fiery striker would not be allowed to return during the finals campaign because of the \u201cassault of a player\u201d during the March 22 clash with Western Sydney,<\/p>\n
Uchendu became involved in a heated altercation during the match after a collision in the penalty area and shoved a defender. <\/p>\n
She was issued a straight red card and also came under scrutiny for an offensive gesture when she stuck her middle finger up to the crowd as she was leaving the field. <\/p>\n
The match review panel proposed a four-match ban, but after referral to the FA Disciplinary and Ethics Committee the sanction was reduced to three games. FA added a further one-match ban for the gesture on Friday which City accepted.<\/p>\n
But City will not be deterred by her absence, with the triple premiers determined to complete their dominant season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve done what we needed to do throughout the season to win the Premiership, and I think now we\u2019re heading into finals, which is a completely different ball game,\u201d City captain Rebekah Stott said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s do what you need to do to win that game. So that\u2019s our goal. Is to obviously win.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think especially last season, we had a lot of pressure on us. But this season as well, to get that Premiership, we had a lot of pressure out of the Champions League games.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou learn to deal with that pressure, and I think that kind of experience we can take into the final games, and, yeah, use to our advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victory, who secured their semi-final spot with a 3-1 win over Canberra United last week, are confident they can take the battle to City. They led in their first encounter this season before succumbing to a 2-1 defeat, while the teams drew 0-all when they last met in February.<\/p>\n
ROAR RIDING WAVE OF MOMENTUM<\/p>\n
Brisbane defender Angie Beard believes the underdog Roar can ride the wave of momentum from their stunning elimination final performance into Sunday\u2019s semi-final first leg against Wellington Phoenix at Spencer Park.<\/p>\n
The Roar hit full stride with the 3-0 victory over Adelaide and while they\u2019ve not beaten the Phoenix this season, Beard believes the Brisbane team are finding ways to push through their most challenging obstacles.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly the girls are really excited,\u201d Beard said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole season has been a rollercoaster … (our mantra has been) you see adversity you go through it and come out the other side a bit stronger.
\u201c(Against Adelaide) I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve seen us look so fluid in attack.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t want to jinx it, but I\u2019m confident in the girls and confident in the coaching staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Roar\u2019s stunning win last week is perhaps the big advantage they take into this first semi, especially as the Phoenix has not played a competitive game since April 3.<\/p>\n
Wellington coach Bev Priestman said it has been tough for the players to sit back during the week off, with nerves building towards their semi-final.<\/p>\n
And for a club about to play finals for the first time, it brings with it a different set of expectations and pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest, it was torture hanging around,\u201d said Priestman.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I feel like the minute that we knew who we had, I think everything\u2019s flipped now.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a big part of pressure and a big moment is preparedness, and I think what we do very well is prepare as a group, and we\u2019ve done a lot of work on penalties and closing a game, chasing a game, you know, all those sorts of things.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut now it\u2019s just (focusing) on the team in front of us and tidying up some things.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe played a game at the weekend. It was very clunky, I think, given some of the players hadn\u2019t played for three weeks because of injuries and things.\u201d<\/p>\n
A-League Women\u2019s Semi-finals (first leg)<\/p>\n
Saturday May 2<\/p>\n
Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City, AAMI Park, 5pm<\/p>\n
Sunday May 3<\/p>\n
Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix, Spencer Park, 5pm<\/p>\n