EXCLUSIVE: Melbourne Victory’s rising star Stephanie Catley has heaped the pressure on Canberra United ahead of Saturday’s W-League final and she hopes her team can inspire their A-League counterparts.
CLICK HERE TO SEE VICTORY TRAIN
Victory head to the nation’s capital as rank underdogs for a clash with the newly crowned minor premiers United.
With golden boot Michelle Heyman spearheading Canberra’s forward line and Matildas keeper Lydia Williams in career-best form, the “Green Machine” have gone through the season undefeated.
The Capital Girls are red-hot favourites to prevail in this do-or-die finals game with the loser eliminated and the winner moving onto next weeks' grand final.
Some have suggested this will be a ‘Mission Impossible’ for the Victory girls.
But talented goal-scoring defender Catley is having none of that, as she explained to au.fourfourtwo.com.
“It’s definitely not mission impossible,” said the Young Matilda, who turns 18 on Australia Day. “Finals are a pressure situation for both teams but they’ve got everything to lose.
“They don’t want to go through a season undefeated then throw it away in the finals. I think we’ve been the sort of side all year that no-one has wanted to play.
“I don’t think anyone feels safe coming up against us. All our games have been close and in finals anything can happen.”
Victory shone when the two sides met this season.
An upset was on the cards two weeks ago only for a late Heyman strike to earn the visiting Canberra a point. Earlier in the season United defeated Victory 2-1 in Canberra.
Catley said she felt Victory’s form in previous encounters against United and the pressure of finals football will suit them as they aim to make history by qualifying for their first ever W-League grand final.
“In both games against Canberra they’ve been tight and really contested,” she said. “And because we made the finals last year we’ve got a bit of experience and feel a bit more confident.
“Canberra has been undefeated all season but finals are a different ball game.”
Victory A-League captain Adrian Leijer has sent the team a message of support this week.
“We’re proud we’ve made the finals for the second season in a row and hopefully our A-League team can do the same thing," she said.
“I guess we can inspire them,” said Catley, who revealed Harry Kewell is her personal favourite.
And with dangerous former Birmingham City striker Jodie Taylor in their ranks along with a group of talented Young Matildas - including superstar in the making Brianna Davey in goals - Victory are clearly a dark horse after finishing fourth.
“We’re sort of like a big family, so we’re always working for each other and we don’t give up,” she added.
What's more, Catley, Davey and Ashley Brown are set to move up into the senior national team after this season but till then it’s all business with all eyes on Canberra this Saturday.
For the first time the W-League finals will be streamed live (http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/programs/w-league).
ABC TV will show highlights of both finals with United and Victory on Saturday and Brisbane versus Sydney on Sunday, both at 6pm.
CLICK HERE TO SEE VICTORY TRAIN
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