The Wanderers NPL Women’s side will round out their regular season on Sunday evening when they welcome Sydney Olympic to Wanderers Football Park.
With finals football already secured, the final round provides the Red & Black with an opportunity to build some momentum before attention turns towards the Championship Series.
The Wanderers had put together an impressive run of four consecutive victories before last weekend’s trip to Lambert Park, where APIA Leichhardt brought that streak to an end.
There were plenty of positives in the opening half of that contest, with the Wanderers taking the game to APIA and putting themselves in a strong position. However, the hosts responded after the break and ultimately turned the match around.
Despite the setback, the recent run has demonstrated what the Wanderers are capable of heading into the business end of the season. Their attacking quality has been complemented by some strong defensive performances over the past month, helping establish the side as a genuine threat heading into the finals.
Sunday now represents an important opportunity to reset.
Olympic have shown throughout the year that they can trouble teams across the competition, and with the possibility of climbing further up the standings, they will have no shortage of motivation heading into the contest.
For the Wanderers, however, the focus will be on producing a complete performance across the 90 minutes.
After showing some of their best football during their recent winning streak, returning to that level ahead of the Championship Series would provide an ideal conclusion to the regular season.
The Key Decider: Maintaining control for 90 minutes.
Last weekend highlighted just how quickly a match can change when momentum swings.
The Wanderers showed their quality during the opening half against APIA but were unable to maintain that control after the interval. Against an Olympic side with plenty to play for, remaining composed through different stages of the contest will be crucial.
If the Red & Black can combine their recent attacking threat with the defensive discipline that helped drive their four-match winning run, they will give themselves every opportunity to enter the Championship Series on the back of a victory.
NPL NSW Round 26
Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Sydney Olympic
Sunday 30th August
5:00pm
Wanderers Football Park
