They are the Matildas’ great World Cup goal scoring hopes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But for now, they face off for the W-League championship.
Sam Kerr, the superstar strike force for Perth Glory, against Lake Illawarra’s own Caitlin Foord, who helped launch Sydney FC into the grand final against Brisbane.
When it comes to stopping Kerr, Sydney FC coach Ante Juric admits it may be mission impossible for his team.
The superstar Matilda on Sunday fired Perth Glory into the W-League grand final with a sensational hat-trick in a 4-2 extra-time win over premiers Melbourne Victory.
Kerr will now face Sydney FC for the championship after the Sky Blues won through to their second-consecutive grand final with a 2-1 semi-final win on the road against Brisbane.
The 25-year-old's treble against Victory means she now has 16 for the W-League season including two against her former club in a 2-1 win over Sydney FC in December.
Juric said he would need to devise a strategy for dealing with Kerr.
"We'll get a plan in there, if it's trying to stop her with two people or trying to stop the service to her maybe, I don't know," Juric said.
"You know what? She's hard to stop, probably impossible, so we'll just try to score more goals than she does."
The Sky Blues will be seeking to make amends following last year's 2-0 grand final defeat to Melbourne City and have a red-hot Matildas striker of their own to pose a goal threat. Foord's strike against Brisbane in the semi-final was her 10th of the season – and sixth against the Roar alone in 2018-19.
After missing out on last year's grand final due to a foot injury, the 24-year- old is clearly as determined as anyone at Sydney FC to set the record straight.
If we are at our best, we can beat anyone
- Caitlin Foord
"Sitting out last year was never fun so I was never going to let us lose," Foord said. "We'll focus on ourselves this week and we still have a lot of potential. If we are at our best, we can beat anyone."
READ MORE: In-form Foord targets W-League redemption
Another forward set to play a role in the grand final is experienced Lisa de Vanna.
The 34-year-old missed the trip to Brisbane with a bruised knee but Juric is expecting the Matildas' veteran to be back on the pitch against the Glory.
"The last session before we came here she went off the session so we didn't take her and I actually told her 'we're getting a grand final so make sure you're ready to play in that one'," Juric said.
W-League
Grand final
Saturday
SYDNEY v PERTH
Jubilee Stadium (4.30pm)
Head-to-head: Sydney 10 wins, Perth 9 wins, no draws
Grand final record: Sydney: played five, won two. Perth: played two, won none.
