The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 1 team face Manly United at Wanderers Football Park on Saturday as they hope to topple the high flying side in a bid to collect three points.
The Western Sydney Wanderers welcome Manly United to Wanderers Football Park in search for their second win of the season following a disappointing draw against rivals Sydney FC last weekend.
Manly United made easy work of Wollongong Wolves in a 6-0 drubbing of the Wollongong side. In a great team performance, Manly had six different players get on the scoresheet in their most dominant performance of the season. The win sees them come into the game six points behind Marconi and NWS Spirit, who currently lead the chase in the NPL NSW competition.
The Red & Black will want to build on last week’s performance as they will feel like they have finally found their attacking groove as Gus Hoefsloot’s exceptional goalkeeping display was the difference between a draw and taking all three points.
The Key Decider: The Clinical Edge
The Wanderers have been able to unlock most defenses this season with their movement in the final third, but their achilles heel has been their lack of clinical finishing.
Alaat Abdul-Rahman and Awan Lual have consistently demonstrated sharp attacking instincts and intelligent positioning this season, but their impact has been limited by a lack of finishing.
The Wanderers will need to bring their best attacking foot forward as they take on the competition’s best defence.
Manly have only conceded six goals this season, and three of them came against their loss to the Sutherland Sharks earlier this year.
Aaron O’Driscoll and Alen Aganovic have proven to be quite the centre back partnership this season, as they have kept 5 clean sheets in 9 games between the both of them.
They face a different task in Abdul-Rahman and Lual this week, who in their own right have caused plenty of issues for opposition defences, but have lacked the clinical edge to convert their chances.
A change in fortune could be on the cards this week, as if the Red and Black attacking duo find their shooting boots, it could be a turning point for the season of the Wanderers.
This match is shaping up to be an open, attacking contest, with both teams eager to get forward.
Manly pose a unique challenge, spreading their goals across the team — even defender Harry Van Der Saag is one of their joint top scorers, alongside three others, all with three goals each. The Wanderers will need to be alert to threats from all areas of the pitch if they’re to come away with a result.
NPL NSW Round 10
Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Manly United
Saturday 12 March 2025, 3:30pm
Wanderers Football Park
