The Wanderers NPL 1 Women’s side return to Wanderers Football Park to take on UNSW in what is touted to be the Match of the Round.
The Wanderers will be aiming for their third consecutive win when they host UNSW at Wanderers Football Park on Sunday. Their hard-fought 1-0 victory over APIA last weekend was another step forward in their climb up the ladder.
The Wanderers head into this game two points off the top of the table, meaning a win for the Red & Black with a few fortunate results could see them climb as high as first on Sunday.
UNSW come off a 2-1 loss to Mount Druitt Town Rangers, where a late Allira Toby goal was not enough to complete the comeback. The result sees them slip to seventh following a dominant 3-0 win over Macarthur Rams the week prior.
UNSW’s Tiana Petkovski and Chloe Smith have been standout performers this season and will demand close attention from the Wanderers defence. Smith has already netted five goals — including a hat-trick and a brace — while Petkovski has caused constant problems down the left flank.
The young winger showcased her ability to strike from distance against the Rams and will be looking to build on what’s been an impressive campaign so far.
The Wanderers’ Olivia Vanderlaan will be looking to back up her super-sub performance against APIA and stake her claim for a starting spot this week.
The young attacker has consistently made an impact off the bench, proving to be a real game-changer this season. Alongside Alyssa McKenzie, the duo’s influence has been nothing short of outstanding — and with Anika Stajcic and Talia Kapetanellis potential A-League call-ups once again, it’s only a matter of time before Vanderlaan and McKenzie see more consistent starting minutes.
The Key Decider: Midfield Supremacy
The Wanderers biggest momentum swing against APIA last week was their ability to outwork the opposition’s midfield.
Estella Cameron and Sienna Arrarte were able to apply an incredible amount of pressure on the Leichhardt side to force them into either hacking the ball upfield or turning the ball over in a dangerous area.
“This result set the tone for a match that began as a backs-against-the-wall effort and evolved into one of attacking dominance. UNSW typically look to flood forward, often pushing two midfielders into the attack in an attempt to overwhelm their opponents.
Teams that have found success against UNSW have done so by controlling the base of midfield and cutting off any driving runs or probing through balls, effectively disrupting their attacking flow.
If the Red and Black are to win this game, they will need Cameron and Arrarte to replicate their performance from last week as it will likely be the catalyst to another dominant attacking display from the Rooty Hill side.
This will give the likes of Amelia Cassar and Miriam Zumaya room to work with as if the UNSW attack is stopped in its tracks, it will likely cause an overload in the Wanderers’ favour when counter attacking.
Expect an enthralling end-to-end clash, where both teams will look to secure three points in the hope of their chances at keeping up with the top of the table.
NPL NSW Women’s Round 6
Western Sydney Wanderers v UNSW
Sunday 13 April 2025, 5:00pm
Wanderers Football Park
