As someone who grew up in Sadlier, near Liverpool in Sydney’s south-western suburbs, Alex Huynh knows about the great divide between East and West.
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And that is especially the case when it comes to sport and, in particular, football where the rivalry is extremely intense.
It is no surprise then that one game will occupy the Wanderers Westfield W-League defender’s mind this week – the Sydney Derby against cross-city rivals Sydney FC at Bankwest Stadium on Friday.
“I don’t like the hashtag #SydneyisSkyBlue,” said Huynh.
“It has been tough going against them for so long now and we definitely need to get one back.”
Unfortunately, tough is a bit of an understatement given the Red & Black have managed just one win in 14 games against their cross-town rivals. The club’s one and only win was back on 26 October 2014.
But things have changed for the better out West. With three wins and a draw from their opening four games of the season, the unbeaten, new look Wanderers have finally emerged as a force which to be reckoned.
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Under head coach Dean Heffernan and armed with a quality squad, the Red & Black have made a serious impact on the competition with wins against Adelaide United, Newcastle Jets, and Brisbane Roar and a draw with Melbourne Victory.
The likes of Huynh, American imports Lynn Williams, Kristen Hamilton, Abby Smith and Sam Staab, Matilda Amy Harrison and Irish star Denise O’Sullivan have given the Wanderers an imposing look.
Huynh, now in her third stint at the club, has no doubts the Wanderers can get the better of Sydney FC.
“This year we have the skills and players to win, so now it is just a matter of trying to put it all together and performing,” said Huynh.
“It is very exciting and genuinely we can win whereas in other years we have probably had to fake that confidence.”
American Smith, who has been a revelation in goals for the Wanderers, said she is aware of the rivalry between the two clubs.
“It should be fun because Western Sydney seem to go in as the underdogs every year regardless (of the situation),” said Smith.
“I am looking forward to it because I have teammates (from the US) and friends who are involved with Sydney as well as (Matildas star) Chloe (Logarzo) and Aubrey (Bledsoe) and some of the other American girls (Sofia Huerta and Veronica Latsko).
“The rivalry will be really great and I think it is going to be a bit more vicious than what I might be thinking, but it will be a really great game.
“I am sure each team will bring the best out of each other and the game will be just unbelievable.”
