A trip to Edensor Park to face Sydney United awaits our NPL NSW side, as they look to return to the winners circle after their eight match winning run came to an end.
It was always going to be difficult with several key players out, and a clinical and ruthless APIA Leichhardt side inflicted a heavy defeat on the Young Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park.
Despite the setback, the Wanderers are still four points clear at the top of the table, currently on 30 points after 12 games.
They will need to be much improved against one of the form sides of the competition, with Sydney United on a three game winning streak, catapulting them to fifth in the table.
The season got off to an inauspicious start for Zeljko Kalac’s men, losing two of their first three games with one being a 6-0 drubbing against Sydney Olympic.
But in the nine games since then they have only lost once more, and in the last three weeks have recorded big wins over APIA Leichhardt and Marconi.
They have been powered by forward Shunta Nakamura, who has six goals so far this season, whilst star striker Patrick Antelmi has also been prolific with five goals.
The Wanderers will be boosted by the probable return of many of the players who starred in A-League Men’s action last week, including Aydan Hammond, who scored his first ever A-League goal in the win over the Melbourne Victory.
The season series last season was split, as Sydney United pulled off a stirring comeback in the first game, before the Wanderers put in one of their best performances of the season in the return fixture at Edensor Park, as they hit United for six in a 6-3 victory that kickstarted a run to safety.
Now fighting at the top end of the table, a win in a match like this after a tough defeat would prove the Wanderers’ credentials as contenders for the premiership.
NPL NSW Round 13
Sydney United 58 FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Sunday May 5th 2024, 3pm
Sydney United Sports Centre
