The Western Sydney Wanderers will reach the halfway mark of the NPL 2 season this Sunday afternoon when they take on league leaders Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Sydney United Sports Centre.
Despite being at the top of the league, Mt Druitt will be looking to make amends after last week’s 3-0 loss to Parramatta FC.
Their top scorer, former Wanderers Academy player Manny Gonzalez, has scored 11 goals in 12 games while Japanese import Hiten Satoh has also found the back of the net seven times this season.
Gonzalez is not the only former Wanderer in their squad. Former Wanderers youth player Lachlan Roberts has returned to Mt Druitt after a stint with APIA Leichhardt, while Carlos Saliadarre was signed as an injury replacement player for the Hyundai A-League team back in 2012/13.
For the Wanderers, Rory Jordan will be one to watch. The young winger joined the Wanderers Academy this year after previously playing for Marconi and made his first-grade debut last week against Canterbury Bankstown FC.
A student at the Hills Sports High School, Jordan has also been selected in the Sydney West squad for the upcoming NSW Combined High Schools Championship in Bathurst.
Jarrod Carluccio is another Wanderer to keep an eye on. The Cecil Hills local has been part of two Grand Final winning teams, first with the U18s in 2016 and then with the U20s last year.
Able to play as a striker or on the wing, Carluccio was selected for the Australian Schoolboys team that traveled to the United Kingdom in January and will also take part in next month’s NSW Combined High Schools Championship as part of the Sydney South West squad.
The last time the Wanderers faced Mt Druitt, an incredible comeback saw the Red & Black win 4-3 after being 3-1 down at half-time with Moudi Najjar getting the winning goal in the 91st minute.
Entry for Wanderers Members is free for this match.
NPL 2 NSW Round 13
Western Sydney Wanderers v Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Sunday 27 May, 3:00pm (U20s kick-off at 1:00pm, U18s at 11:00am)
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park