It’s the first match for the Red & Black since the AFC Women’s Asian Cup break, and they’ll be looking to bounce back from a tough 3-0 loss to Canberra United at McKellar Park.
Josie Aulicino’s early strike set the tone for the hosts, before a second midway through the second half and a late goal from Michelle Heyman sealed the result.
Despite the scoreline, Shamiran Khamis produced a number of key saves to keep the Wanderers within striking distance, and the team will look to reset quickly with finals ambitions still alive.
Melbourne Victory come into the fixture having been held to a 0-0 draw by Wellington Phoenix last weekend.
The match featured early chances for Kennedy White, who tested Wanderers goalkeeper Malena Mieres from range, while City’s Aideen Keane and Shelby McMahon saw efforts fly off target. In the second half, both teams had opportunities, with Alana Jancevski and Ella O’Grady introduced for Victory to try and find a breakthrough.
Ultimately, neither side could find a way past the opposition, leaving the points shared.
Back in November, these two sides met in a high-scoring contest, with Melbourne Victory running out 4-1 winners. Kennedy White scored a hat-trick while Zoe McMeeken also found the net, with Danika Matos’ strike the sole response for the Wanderers.
That result will be in the back of the Red & Black’s minds as they look to improve on their performance in Victoria this Friday.
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup has left its mark on both squads, with Western Sydney missing key internationals Janae DeFazio (Philippines) and Chinese duo Wang Ying and Yuan Cong, while Victory are without Matildas star Holly McNamara.
Despite these absences, the clash promises to be a competitive affair as both sides chase points with finals positioning still in play.
