The Sydney FC Liberty A-League season will begin with a tough trip to South Australia to face Adelaide United.
For Ante Juric’s Sydney FC, they come into this season having won the last two premierships and partaking in the previous five grand finals. He wants more this season and wants his girls to win the entire competition and there is no reason as to why they can’t.
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In the off-season, the Sky Blues have strengthened with the addition of Anna Green, Kirsty Fenton, Abbey Lemon, Madison Haley and Deborah-Anne de la Harpe and this is surely going to add to the goals up front, and the defensive record at the back.
Back between the sticks this season is Jada Whyman and she will be hoping for another successful year as she hopes to break her own records of goals against and minutes without conceding a goal. With the rest of the squad, she will be hoping to overcome the grand final hoodoo that has befallen the team as of late.
For their opponents on Sunday, Adelaide United will be looking to build on their strong efforts last season where they finished 3rd and made the finals. An unfortunate loss to Melbourne Victory in the finals derailed their push to the trophy and will no doubt make them even hungrier for victory this year.
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The Reds have acquired the services of Fiona Worts once again who finished atop the goal-scoring charts with 13 goals from 14 matches, an incredible achievement. She also put five past Brisbane Roar and was the only player to score two hat-tricks during the season. If Sydney FC want to get a positive result from this match, they will be needing to keep her quiet.
In the most recent meeting between these two sides, Sydney FC needed a win to finish premiers and they got there thanks to a delightful goal from Paige Satchell. This clash last season was nervy and chaotic with action a plenty and we expect more of the same this time around. While that match finished 1-0, with Sydney FC’s new firepower in Madison Haley, you can hope for more goals this time round.
Three points are vital for both teams to get off to a good start in this expanded season and come Sunday afternoon, with the rest of the teams having already played, it will give an indication of where teams are likely to sit during the season.
Ones to Watch
Fiona Worts – Adelaide United
Fiona Worts is a talented striker and one who knows her way to goal. You just have to ask Brisbane Roar all about that as she put five past them in one game last season. The reigning golden boot of 14 goals is looking for more of the same and will hopefully find the going tough against the Sky Blue defence of Charlotte McLean and Nat Tobin. Having had spells in England and most recently in Norway, the Englishwoman knows her way to goal and arrives firing on all cylinders.
Cortnee Vine – Sydney FC
Cortnee Vine comes into this Liberty A-League season having kept up appearances for the Matildas during the off-season. She has been a regular starter for Tony Gustavsson’s team and also notched her first goal for the National team against South Africa. This season, she will be hoping to add to her tally of six regular season goals and with an expanded season, there is no reason as to why she cannot do that. A quick and nippy winger, she will constantly be a threat going forward.
Match Details
Adelaide United v Sydney FC
Liberty A-League Women’s Round One
Sunday 20th November 2022
ServiceFM Stadium, Adelaide, SA
Kick Off: 4pm AEDT (3:30pm Local)
Broadcast Live: 10Play & Paramount+
Tickets: Click Here
