Our Wander Women are at home again this Friday night against the Newcastle Jets, and are aiming for a second win in a row.
Get your tickets to the match here.
It has been a difficult season at times, but it all came together on Sunday afternoon as a courageous performance from the Red and Black saw them earn a deserved 2-1 win over a high flying Brisbane.
A strong start was rewarded with a well-taken Sienna Saveska goal, and despite the Roar equalising in the second half, the return of a star attacker sealed a much needed victory for the Wanderers.
Holly Caspers has had a hugely frustrating season, missing the first part of the campaign due to injury, then breaking her toe after just two substitute appearances from the bench.
She finally returned on Sunday, and within minutes of coming on she had scored the winner by latching onto a perfect Danika Matos through ball and poking the ball into the net under extreme pressure from the defender and ‘keeper.
It is just the second win of the season for the Wanderers, and they will feel a little bit of luck finally went their way where it has often deserted them in 2024/25.
Whilst Caspers was the player of the moment after her emotional return to the field, the star of the show – and this season – continues to be the 18-year-old Saveska.
The attacking midfielder and striker has been scoring goals for fun, with her early strike on Sunday her seventh of the season.
It means she is level with a clutch of players at the top of the goalscoring charts in what has been a breakout year for her.
Her form was rewarded with selection in the upcoming Young Matildas side, where she will be joined by teammates Talia Younis, Maya Lobo and Millie Bennett.
Whilst the Wanderers are still unfortunately at the bottom of the A-League Women’s ladder, they can make big moves with a win over the Jets.
They would not only move above their opponents if they secure all three points, but they could also move above their crosstown rivals and the Perth Glory if results go their way, which would be a big boost to the confidence of a young side.
Interim boss Geoff Abrahams will be ensuring his side remains focused and doesn’t get carried away in an important yet winnable match.
The Jets are on a poor run of form, winless in nine and with just one win in their last 12 games, seeing them slide down the table after a fairly positive start to the season.
In their nine match winless run, they have conceded 25 goals and picked up just three points, and the Wanderers will hope to take advantage of that fact.
The Jets’ last game was a 2-0 defeat at home to leaders Melbourne City; to their credit they performed well and had almost double the shots of their opponent, but two late goals condemned them to the defeat.
The sides last met way back in round one, where the Wanderers were forced to share the points in frustrating circumstances.
Goals to Saveska and Sophie Harding put them in front early on, but a controversial goal just before the break put the Jets back in the game, and a second half strike from Lauren Allan meant the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
The head-to-head ledger between the sides in recent fixtures is very even, with four wins apiece combined with four draws.
Western Sydney are unbeaten in their last four clashes with Newcastle, and will hope to make it five on Sunday.
