Gulcan Koca is set to equal the club’s Westfield W-League appearance record when Melbourne Victory hosts Sydney FC on Australia Day.
Koca, 27, is in line to play her 65th W-League game for Victory, drawing her level with Enza Barilla and Steph Catley.
Victory head coach Jeff Hopkins praised the midfielder ahead of Friday’s meeting with the Sky Blues at AAMI Park.
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“The last couple of games she’s been up there with our best,” he said.
“The last couple of weeks she’s really played with her heart on her sleeve, which is what we needed and her performance against City and her performance last week were excellent.
“It’ll be good for her to equal that with a win which keeps us in with a chance to still be alive next week.”
Victory still has a slim chance of making the finals, holding a game in hand and sitting six points behind fourth-placed City.
It is coming off a 1-1 draw against the Western Sydney Wanderers, during which Natasha Dowie scored her sixth goal of the campaign.
Hopkins said he was happy to be back at AAMI Park, and on a big occasion.
“There’s no better place to play,” he said.
“The surface is absolutely superb, a big game against Sydney FC, they’re a strong side with a lot of talent and it’s going to be a tough ask for us.
“But we’re going to get out there and have a real go and see where it takes us.”
Westfield W-League 2017/18 Round 13
Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC
Friday, January 26, 5.20pm AEDT
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Live on Fox Sports 501 and SBS Viceland
