The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL Women’s side travel to Peter Moore Fields this weekend to take on a refreshed Sydney Olympic outfit, following a hard-fought draw against Manly United last Sunday.
The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL Women’s side face a tough challenge as they travel to Peter Moore Fields to take on the star-studded Sydney Olympic, who look a refreshed side following the addition of a handful of midfield signings.
The Wanderers come off a heartbreaking draw against Manly United that saw Ellie Kerr score an added-time volley from outside the box to equalise in the dying moments of the game. The game also saw Talia Younis pick up her first goal of the season in her third appearance of the year.
Sydney Olympic brushed past Gladesville Ravens in a 3-0 win that saw new signings Aideen Keane and Alyssa Whynam get on the scoresheet. This marked their third win in a row, and their run of form has seen them win those games 14–2 on aggregate.
Olympic have added Taylor Ray, Aideen Keane, Alyssa Whynam, Peta Trimis, Tiana Fuller, Jaya Bowman, and Annalee Grove to their playing list, as the Belmore side was in need of reinforcements following their run of form that saw them fail to win a game in the first eleven rounds of the competition.
The Wanderers have seen a handful of players depart, the likes of Maya Lobo, Gemma Ferris, Brooklyn Hudson, and Talia Kapetanellis have all joined opposition sides. Although this may have unbalanced the side for a few weeks, the Wanderers appear to have found stability once again with their starting side.
The sides last met in Round 2, where the Wanderers walked away 3–1 victors in their inaugural win of the competition. Anika Stajcic and Gemma Ferris scored in the second half as the Wanderers cancelled out a 50th minute Olympic equaliser in a dominant second-half performance by the Red and Black.
The Key Decider: Stopping the Star Power
With a combined 310 A-League games between Sydney Olympic’s new signings, it’s safe to say they have recruited well. With 14 goals in their last three games, nine of them belonging to Keane and Whynam, the Belmore side has turned their season around and look a dangerous outfit.
Whynam’s dominance in midfield has taken the competition by storm, while Keane’s sheer strength and power on the wing have caused problems for their opponents. The side has looked almost unstoppable, and the additions of Trimis and Fuller added another dimension to the side’s attack when they came off the bench last weekend.
The Wanderers have the likes of Younis and Bennett to combat Olympic’s star power and will need the two wonderkids to be at their best if they are to have a chance of defeating the in-form side.
Tactically, the Wanderers play a 4-3-3 system with a holding midfielder, so whether it is Bennett or Sienna Arrarte who plays in that position, they will have the task of marking Whynam, who has shown that if she is given space, she will likely punish her opposition.
Chelsea Barton and Alvina Khoshaba, despite their youth, have been consistent performers in the side and will also be required to emulate their performance from last week. Keane has proved to be a handful for defenders at all levels, and despite the mismatch in physicality, Khoshaba’s defensive improvement has been a highlight in the last two rounds.
Barton will have her hands full dealing with Tiana Fuller, as the clinical youngster has shown she is not afraid to take her chances if given the opportunity.
Sydney Olympic have reshuffled their defence in recent weeks, with Chloe Gordon and Tara Baudana dropping into defence from midfield. Ultimately, this means the likes of Olivia Vanderlaan, Miriam Zumaya, and Anika Stajcic will want to isolate the defenders to expose any weaknesses at the back.
If Stajcic is at her best, her ability to drag in the Olympic defenders will open up space for the attack and a trailing Younis to take advantage of the opportunities at hand.
To their advantage, the Wanderers have existing combinations that have played together for the majority of the season, which can expose Olympic’s defence when given the chance. Much like their game against the Jets, they will need to be clinical to defeat this star-studded side.
Fuller and Younis are two of our country’s brightest talents, and this Sunday’s clash looks to be a great showcase of Australia’s emerging stars, where A-League experience meets undiscovered talent that can only thrive from playing alongside and against such players.
The Wanderers will need to be at their best if they are to beat a star-studded side. If they do pick up the win on Sunday, it will be a statement victory and could extend their unbeaten run to three matches.
NPL NSW Women’s Round 15
Sydney Olympic FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Sunday 15th of June, 5:00pm
Peter Moore Fields
