The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 1 side will travel to Landen Stadium on Sunday afternoon to face Blacktown City in a crucial fixture that has become a must-win for both teams.
The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 1 side will look to take their first steps to securing safety on Sunday when they take on Blacktown City in a must win clash for both sides as we begin to count down to the end of the regular season.
The Wanderers enter the clash following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against St George City at Wanderers Football Park last weekend. In a tightly contested match, the Red and Black secured a valuable point against the ten-man visitors, keeping their hopes of safety alive. However, with Mount Druitt and Central Coast both recording wins, the Wanderers head into Round 28 at the foot of the ladder.
Blacktown City, who looked all but secure inside the top six, have seen their recent form put their finals position at risk. One win in the last four games, and a final round clash with Wollongong Wolves could see the Blacktown side miss finals football if they fail to pick up form in the next three weeks.
The last time the two sides faced off, Blacktown walked away four-nil victors in a disastrous day for the Red and Black, as two red cards inside ten minutes saw the game slip out of the Wanderers’ grasp following a two goal half time deficit.
The Key Decider: The needle movers
Despite a challenging season that sees the Wanderers sitting at the bottom of the table, there have been several standout performers. Chief among them is young forward Edmun Haddad, whose energy and flair have consistently lifted his side. The dynamic attacker has proven to be a genuine game-changer, with his unpredictable style and relentless drive causing constant headaches for opposition defenders.
Similarly, Mitchell Malia has been a driving force for Blacktown City, with much of their play flowing through the talented midfielder. Boasting four goals in his last five matches, the club’s leading scorer will be eager to secure his side’s place in the finals in what is shaping up as a must-win encounter for Blacktown. They will need Malia at his best to overcome a Wanderers outfit that has proven a challenging opponent in recent weeks.
Neither side can afford defeat on Sunday and will look to their most consistent players to help get them through what stands to be their most important ninety minutes of the season.
Expect an enthralling affair between two sides desperate to take home an integral three points in what aims to be a make or break game for both sides.
NPL NSW Round 28
Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Blacktown City
Sunday 17th of August, 3:00pm
Landen Stadium
