The Western Sydney Wanderers W-League squad have proved that they are serious contenders for a finals position after defeating Adelaide in a convincing 4-0 win at Campbelltown Stadium.
The Western Sydney Wanderers W-League squad have proved that they are serious contenders for a finals position after defeating Adelaide in a convincing 4-0 win at Campbelltown Stadium.
The Wanderers got off to a spectacular start, with Swedish import Louise Fors scoring a goal from a quickly taken free-kick.
The crowd barely finished celebrating the first goal when a pin-point pass delivered from Fors to Servet Uzunlar on the left was followed by a telling cross, clinically finished by Sarah Walsh with a header.
The Wanderers dominated possession and dictated the tempo of the game and at the 15th minute mark the score could have been elevated to 3-0, with the Wanderers failing to capitalise on a well-executed corner delivered by Fors.
The Wanderers goal keeper, Icelander Thora Helgadottir, was rarely tested in the first half, with Adelaide’s only half-chance deriving from a dangerous free kick that soared wide of the crossbar.
The Wanderers first-half dominance was completed in the 40th minute, with Matilda Servet Uzunlar scoring a cracking shot from 27 metres after being fed a superb through ball from Teigen Allen.
In the second half Adelaide made two substitutions with striker Racheal Quigley and midfielder Marijana Rajcic replacing Laura Johns and Jenna McCormick.
Adelaide began to enjoy some territorial advantage with these two changes, with Quigley creating a couple of threatening goal scoring opportunities.
Rajcic for Adelaide hit the post and Cannuli rattled the cross bar as the two teams battled to the final whistle.
The Wanderers quickly regained their composure and began to press for a fourth goal. This came in the 67 minute, after a fine delivery from Catherine Cannuli was converted by commanding midfielder Fors.
As a reward for her fine performance, Fors was awarded an early mark and a reprieve from the heat, when she was replaced by dynamic midfielder Trudy Camilleri in the 67th minute.
Two further changes occurred, with defender Jessica Seaman replacing Alesha Clifford in the 74th minute and Linda O’Neill coming on for Captain Sarah Walsh.
The Wanderers, learning from their previous encounter with the Lady Reds, did not take their foot off the accelerator and comfortably concluded the match, sending their fans home happy and securing the Wanderers’ fourth victory of the season.
The Wanderers face a difficult test of character over the next four games, as they are set to meet the competition heavyweights Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Canberra United.
Western Sydney Wanderers: 4 (Fors 6-, 67-, Sarah Walsh 8-, Servet Uzunlar 40-) Adelaide United: 0 Saturday, 8 December 2012 Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney Local Kick-off: 2pm
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Thora HELGADOTTIR (gk), 2. Samantha SPACKMAN, 3. Alexandra HUYNH, 4. Alesha CLIFFORD (12. Jessica SEAMAN 74′), 5. Olivia KENNEDY, 8. Vanessa HART, 9. Sarah WALSH (c) (16. Linda O’NEILL 82′), 10. Servet UZUNLAR, 11. Louise FORS (14. Trudy CAMILLERI 68′), 13. Catherine CANNULI, 15. Teigen ALLEN
Substitutes Not Used: Elizabeth Durack (gk)
Yellow Cards: Servet Uzunlar 30-, Louise Fors 38-, Alexandra Huynh 60-
Red Cards: Nil
Adelaide United: 1. Kristi HARVEY (gk), 3. Alex NATOLI, 5. Abby ERCEG (c), 8. Sarah McLAUGHLIN, 10. Jenna McCORMICK (9. Marijana RAJCIC h/t), 11. Grace HENRY (12. Elise WHORLOW 80′), 13. Ann MAYO, 15. Emma CHECKER, 16. Jess WATERHOUSE, 17. Laura JOHNS (7. Racheal QUIGLEY h/t), 19. Holly PATTERSON
Substitutes Not Used: Cassandra Tsoumbris
Yellow Cards: Holly Patterson 57-, Marijana Rajcic 70-
Red Cards: Nil
