Our A-League Men’s side return to action after the international break as they make the short trip to Campbelltown to face Macarthur FC.
Get your tickets to the match here.
It was a welcome break for the side after a testing period in March, though it ended positively after the Wanderers secured an important 2-1 victory away from home against the Perth Glory.
It was far from the flashiest performance of the season on a hot Perth afternoon, but Brandon Borrello’s first goal of the season and a late winner from Lachie Brook were enough to give the Wanderers their first A-League win in the city in 10 years.
It was a vital one too in the race for the finals, with the win lifting the Wanderers back into the top six with just five games to go in the season.
Despite the success, coach Marko Rudan will be looking for more improvement for his side as they look to harness the momentum from the win over Perth into the final run in during April, as they look to recover a top four place they occupied for much of the season.
They will need their leaders to stand up, and Borrello’s goalscoring touch returning is coming at a vital time, with the Wanderersbeing without the services of Brook and Nicolas Milanovic, who are both on Olyroos duty.
Sonny Kittel also enjoyed his best game in Wanderers colours against Perth, getting the assist for Borrello’s goal, and playing a key role in building attacks for the side.
Fresh off the back of breaking one away day hoodoo, they will look to smash another against the Bulls, who the Wanderers have failed to beat on their own turf to date.
Fresh off the back of breaking one away day hoodoo, they will look to smash another against the Bulls, who the Wanderers have failed to beat on their own turf to date.
Unfortunately, Valerie Germain scored a header with virtually the last play of the game despite Lawrence Thomas’ best efforts to scoop the ball away off the line.
The Wanderers won the earlier clash in the season comfortably on New Year’s Day, with two early goals paving the way for a 3-1 victory.
Macarthur currently sit in third on the ladder with 35 points, with a seven match unbeaten run throughout January and early February helping lay the foundation for them to be in that position.
It has been something of an inconsistent season for the Bulls, with wins over our crosstown rivals and Melbourne City cancelled out by chastening 3-0 defeats to Wellington and Central Coast.
They have been highly reliant on Germain and captain Ulises Davila for their goals, with the pair having 19 goals and nine assists between them.
Their last match saw the supporting cast shine, as Tomi Uskok and Raphael Borges Rodrigues scored two first half goals in a come from behind win against the Brisbane Roar on the road.
The head-to-head record between the sides is close, with Macarthur’s last gasp victory last time out seeing them edge ahead with four wins compared to the Wanderers’ three.
Goals tend to accompany this fixture, with seven of the 10 clashes seeing four goals or more scored.
The Wanderers will be hoping for both a calmer match this time around, as well as another three points as they continue their fight for finals football.
Match Details
Macarthur FC v Western Sydney Wanderers
Monday 1 April 2024, 3:00pm
Campbelltown Sports Stadium
