Melbourne City are determined to bounce back quickly from the heartbreak of Semi-Final defeat in the Ninja A-League, as they pursue a continental trophy in the very first edition of the AFC Women’s Champions League.
Head coach Michael Matricciani and his City squad are in Wuhan, China this week ahead of Wednesday night’s Semi-Final clash with Incheon Red Angels in the Semi-Finals of a tournament that, if won, would net the club at least USD $1.3 million (roughly AUD $2 million).
Match details
Hyundai Steel Red Angels v Melbourne City FC
Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium, Wuhan, China
Wednesday 21 May, 10:00pm KO (AEST)
Broadcast live and free via 10play
Featured image credit: Melbourne City
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A triumph in the Champions League Final, against either Ho Chi Minh City or Wuhan Jiangda the other side of the Semi-Final tie, would lead each individual City player earning as much as $50,000.
Two months ago, City captain Rebekah Stott spoke about the potential prize money on offer ahead of City’s quarter-final tie with Taichung Blue Whale, which they won 3-0 to progress to the finals phase in Wuhan.
“We obviously have been talking with the PFA and that is something at the end of the line for us,” Stott said. “So it’s special, especially women’s football, it’s quite huge.
“We want to play good football, but it’s kind of like a carrot dangling in front of you. It’s really cool. It’s really good for women’s football.”
City arrived in China this week ahead of their Semi-Final tie and a potential Final against Wuhan Jiangda or Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday, May 24. Both the Semi-Final and Final of the tournament will kick off at 10pm AEST.
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Deflated by a shock Semi-Final loss to Central Coast Mariners in the Ninja A-League, Matricciani’s City squad have had to quickly shift focus after being denied a spot in the 2025 Ninja A-League Grand Final, despite going 24 games without defeat to claim the Premiers Plate and progress to the cusp of the title decider.
There was an injury scare in City’s Semi-Final second leg against the Mariners, after CommBank Matildas star Holly McNamara was withdrawn after just 18 minutes following a heavy collision. McNamara has been training with the City squad in Wuhan ahead of Wednesday’s game but still needs medical clearance to be involved in the Red Angels clash.
Fellow attacking stars Mariana Speckmaier and Lourdes Bosch will feature in Wednesday’s Semi-Final; Speckmaier returned from an ankle injury in the Ninja A-League Semi-Finals, playing 47 minutes off the bench in the extra-time clash and is expected to receive more minutes against the Red Angels. Bosch, meanwhile, was sent off in the Ninja A-League Semi-Finals but her ban does not carry over to AFC competition.
Match details
AFC Women’s Champions League: Semi-Final 2
Hyundai Steel Red Angels v Melbourne City FC
Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium, Wuhan, China
Wednesday 21 May, 10:00pm KO (AEST)
Broadcast live and free via 10play
How to watch?
You can catch all the action from Wednesday night’s AFC Women’s Champions League Semi-final live and free via 10 Play.
Team news
GOALKEEPERS: 23. Melissa BARBIERI, 24. Malena MIERES, 1. Sophia VARLEY.
DEFENDERS: 21. Isabella ACCARDO, 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 22. Bryleeh HENRY, 5. Taylor OTTO, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 27. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC.
MIDFIELDERS: 19. Lourdes BOSCH, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 14. Laura HUGHES, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 12. Shelby McMAHON, 31. Carina ROSSI, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA
FORWARDS: 7. Kathryn HARVEY, 20. Caitlin KARIC, 9. Holly McNAMARA, 15. Kiera MEYERS, 11. Emilia MURRAY, 17. Mariana SPECKMAIER
