The Wanderers NPL 1 Women’s side return to Wanderers Football Park as they take on second-placed Illawarra Stingrays in a must-win game.
There will be a must-win feel for both sides, as a loss for the Wanderers could see them slip as low as 11th by the end of the round, while a win for the Stingrays could potentially send them to the top of the table.
Illawarra are coming off a disappointing 4-0 defeat to the table-topping Mount Druitt Town Rangers—a result that snapped their six-game unbeaten run and denied them a chance to go clear at the top. They’ll be looking to bounce back on Sunday against a Wanderers side who are themselves coming off a 3-0 loss to Sydney Olympic, in a game where they failed to find the target.
The last time these two sides met, Illawarra claimed a 3-1 win despite a late Wanderers surge to claw back a three-goal deficit. Alyssa McKenzie netted a late consolation to give the Wanderers some hope, but three goals inside twenty minutes had already sealed the Stingrays’ victory.
Illawarra recently welcomed A-League stars Danika Matos and Brianna Edwards into the lineup, bolstering an already seasoned side chasing silverware. Meanwhile, the additions of Cushla Rue, Amellia Bennett, and Talia Younis have been much-needed for a Wanderers team looking to rediscover form.
The Key Decider: Danika Matos v Miriam Zumaya/Cushla Rue
An A-League-level matchup in an NPL game always brings excitement. During the mid-week Sapphire Cup loss to APIA Leichhardt, the Wanderers used a wing rotation, with Zumaya and Rue swapping flanks to trouble the opposition with their unpredictability.
Danika Matos, a seasoned A-League defender who honed her craft at Western Sydney Wanderers, will look to limit the two young wingers with her pace and physicality. Last week, the Wanderers struggled to contain Olympic’s Aideen Keane, whose physical play caused problems. If Matos brings similar intensity, it could be another tough test for the Wanderers.
However, a key factor in the Rangers’ win over the Stingrays was their success in winning second balls. If the Wanderers can dig in—as they often do—they’ll give themselves every chance to cause an upset and take home all three points.
Expect an exciting matchup in what shapes as a must-win clash for both teams as they fight to keep their season aspirations alive.
NPL NSW Women’s Round 16
Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Illawarra Stingrays
Sunday 20th June, 5:00pm
Wanderers Football Park
