Central Coast Mariners are looking to end the regular Liberty A-League season on a high as they host Western United on Thursday (7pm).
Emily Husband’s side secured a Finals spot with two games to spare in their previous home match, defeating Canberra United 4-1.
The Mariners’ loss last time out, at the hands of Melbourne City, extinguished any late hopes of finishing in the top two, but a win against Western would see us confirm a third placed finish which would give us a home elimination final, in our return season to the competition.
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An injury crisis for Western sees them without their top three scorers in the competition. Hannah Keane ruptured her patella tendon injury in their 3-1 defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers last week, after scoring her tenth of the season earlier in the game.
Keane joins third-top scorer Adriana Taranto on the long-term injury list while Chloe Logarzo, Western’s second-top scorer with nine, also remains sidelined.
Husband’s only long-term absence to deal with is captain Taren King, whilst she makes two changes to the starting eleven from last weekend, bringing in Paige Hayward and Peta Trimis for Ash Irwin and Wurigumula.
Our team to take on Western tonight! š#CCMFC #CCMvWUN #BeOurMate pic.twitter.com/SmRdJywdRr
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) March 28, 2024
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Trimis is starting her first match since returning from international duty, where she shone for the Young Matildas.
She scored three in the AFC U20 Women’s Asia Cup, and will be keen to continue that form and add to her three so far in the Liberty A-League.
Peta’s AFC U20 Asia Cup wrap: Individual award nomination caps off Peta Trimisā starring role at U20 Womenās Asia Cup
