Canberra United's first game of 2022 was canned six hours out from kick off after their opponent's camp tested positive for COVID-19, adding to the growing number of A-League fixtures being postponed due to cases.
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United had travelled to Sydney on Friday and awoke to the news on Saturday that they would not be suiting up against Western Sydney Wanderers as planned.
The A-Leagues confirmed an undisclosed number of positive COVID cases had been detected within the Wanderers camp and the match would be postponed.
An A-League spokesperson said the cases were detected on Friday and Saturday via rapid antigen tests or PCR tests.
"All players, coaches and staff with positive results are now in isolation and following the NSW Health directives," they said.
"The A-Leagues protocols continue to be effective for screening and subsequent PCR testing in detecting the virus and ensuring immediate isolation."
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The fixture was the second A-League Women's match to be postponed this week, after an outbreak in Melbourne City's squad postponed their weekend fixture against the Newcastle Jets.
Both join the growing number of A-League fixtures having to be postponed due to positive COVID cases or border restrictions, with only one A-League Men's fixture set to be played out of six this weekend.
The pandemic continues to expose the shortcomings of the three-month ALW season, which affects squad numbers and pre-season length, and in turn means match postponements, COVID-19 and injuries can make or break a side.
The delay takes United's three games in eight days off the table they were set to play, and instead makes it two games in three days.
Before the United fixture was postponed, Canberra's head coach Vicki Linton told The Canberra Times minimal squads, short pre-seasons and the length of the season added strain to the competition.
Upon the Wanderers game postponement news, she said the health and safety of players during COVID must come first.
"It is unfortunate that our game against the Western Sydney Wanderers has been postponed but the health and safety of players, staff and families must come first," Linton said.
"We will travel back to Canberra today and focus on our next game against Perth Glory on Wednesday night."
A silver-lining stemming from the delay will be more preparation time for Allira Toby and Margot Robinne, who were available for selection for the fixture, and more recovery time for Ash Sykes who was still dealing with a hip flexor injury.
The side will reset and look to their rescheduled game against Glory on January 5, before they prepare for a three-day turn around to face Adelaide United on January 8.
Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
