The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 1 Women’s side will embark on their first ever away trip, when they travel to Macedonia Park to take on the Illawarra United Stingrays on Sunday.
The Western Sydney Wanderers travel to Macedonia Park in hope that they can secure back to back wins for the first time this season following a spirited 3-1 victory over Sydney Olympic last Sunday.
The Stingrays come off a 0-0 draw against Mt Druitt Town Rangers, where majority of the game was spent attempting to stop former Matilda and Wanderer Leena Khamis from scoring as they walked away with a point from the trip to Popondetta Park.
The Illawarra side held off the Rangers’ attack with strong defensive resolve and will aim to do the same against a Wanderers team posing a multi-dimensional attacking threat this season.
The Wanderers are growing in stature with each passing round and an impressive team performance lead them to victory against Sydney Olympic last Sunday.
Goals from Gemma Ferris, Anika Stajcic, and Miriam Zumaya secured all three points for the Red & Black. The squad’s depth has been a standout in the opening two weeks, with healthy competition fueling hunger and determination, regardless of the result.
The key decider: Absorbing pressure and momentum
After the opening two rounds, it’s evident where games have been won, drawn, and lost. The Stingrays have leaned heavily on their defense, proving in Round One that they can frustrate teams with their resilience and capitalize on missed chances.
However, Round Two saw a shift in focus, with Khamis becoming the focal point in attack. While her presence adds a new threat, it also diverts attention from their ability to transition quickly from defense to attack.
The Wanderers on the other hand showed that they can ride the waves of momentum and strike back to make sure they are in control of the game in key moments. Last weekend’s result showed that despite conceding four minutes into the second half they exerted the pressure that Sydney Olympic threw at them and managed to change the momentum of the game before it got out of hand, scoring two more goals in the process.
This will be a similar outlook to the game against Olympic where they will be expected to take the initiative and dictate play once again, but that also comes with its challenges.
Miriam Zumaya, Talia Kapetanellis and Anika Stajcic will also need to be at their sharpest if they are to shift the Stingrays defence to swing momentum their way and lead the Wanderers to victory.
Expect a chess-like battle, with both teams patiently waiting for their opponent to make a wrong move. This clash will showcase one of the league’s most promising attacks against a resilient defense, setting the stage for an exciting contest with potentially significant ramifications for the winner.
NPL NSW Women’s Round 3
Illawarra United Stingrays FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Sunday 23 March, 5:00pm
Macedonia Park
