Western Sydney Wanderers tackle Perth Glory this week in their second Thursday night game in a row at Marconi Stadium.
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The Wander Women were unlucky to come away with nothing from last Thursday’s game against Brisbane Roar despite an entertaining performance from Dean Heffernan’s ever-improving team.
The Wander Women went down 2-1 after a double from Matilda Emily Gielnik kept the Roar’s unbeaten start to the season intact, this was after Leena Khamis’ first goal of the season had given the Red & Black an early lead.
Sarah Hunter followed on from her two-goal performance against Adelaide with another promising display. Cheered on by her own fan club, the 17-year-old showed some neat footwork and clever evasiveness as she took on the experienced Roar team head-on.
Hunter’s link-up play with Julie-Ann Russell on the left and Teigan Collister on the right led to a number of promising attacks. She also got herself into scoring positions, unluckily heading against the post in the second half as the Wanderers pushed for an equaliser.
Russell has grown in confidence in recent weeks and delivered some telling runs to keep the Brisbane defence honest. Her crossing let her down but the options she gave added another dimension to the Wanderer’s impressive attack.
Collister’s blistering speed is a major asset, with her knack of chasing down through balls and delivering dangerous crosses, evident against the Roar.
On another night her eight crosses into the box would have led to more goals.
Libby Copus-Brown was her usual bullish self, running hard but also delivering penetrating passes. Her peach of a ball led to Khamis opening the scoring for the Wanderers.
But it wasn’t to be as the Wander Women hit the woodwork twice – Brylee Henry hitting the crossbar with a thunderous strike after Hunter had hit the post earlier – while Khamis had a last-second strike brilliantly saved to her right by young Brisbane goalkeeper Morgan Aquino.
Perth come to Western Sydney after playing only three games this season. Alex Epakis’ team have only one draw and two losses to show so far. Their last game on 24 January was a 1-1 draw in Canberra.
Club legend Sarah Carroll and local girl Natasha Rigby have been in good form in the games the Glory have played, while Kiwi international Liz Anton will also be a dangerous prospect.
The Wanderers sealed a historic finals appearance last season after beating Perth 3-2 in the final round at Dorrien Gardens. This was after a 3-1 win earlier in the season at Bankwest Stadium.
Kick-off is 7.10pm on Thursday night with live coverage on Fox Sports.
