Liberty A-League Premiers Sydney FC have jetted off to the AFC Women’s Club Championship in Uzbekistan aiming to conquer Asian Women’s football.
Having won last season’s double, the Sky Blues have been invited by the AFC to play in the tournament involving several of Asia’s top women’s teams.
Winning Group B against Bam Khatoon of Iran, Steel Red Angels of Korea and FC Nasef from the Uzbek hosts, will see them qualify for the Final against the Group A winners later in 2024.
Head Coach Ante Juric has named a strong 21-player squad for the competition which includes new faces defender Jessica Seaman and lightning quick forward Caley Tallon-Henniker.
Matildas star Cortnee Vine and Young Matildas forward Sienna Saveska both miss out following hamstring injuries sustained on international duty while Captain Natalie Tobin remains at home following knee surgery.
Head Coach Ante Juric is looking forward to the new challenge.
“It’s exciting for the club and this team to be playing in the club championship and I’m sure many of our players will enjoy this experience of playing in a different country against the best Asian club teams,” he said.
“This is a fantastic and unique opportunity for us to be able to test ourselves against the best in Asia. Ultimately, we are aiming to win the championship, as it would be a cherry on top of all the recent successes we have had within Australia. Although we know it will be a tough task and that we will need to be at our best.
“We have led the way in the A-League for a number of years now, and we want to do that internationally. I believe we have the squad to do just that.”
Sydney FC’s first match is on Monday night (6th November) against the Iranians with the Uzbeks up on Thursday (9th) and the final game on Sunday (12th) versus the Koreans.
It’s a tough test for Ante Juric’s side who will need to prove themselves against the best that Asia has to offer.
Bam Khatoon have won five of the last six Iranian Women’s League titles, FC Nasef 13 of the last 17 titles in Uzbekistan and Hyundai Red Steel Angels have won all of the last ten Korean Women’s Football League titles.
This year’s tournament is a pre-cursor to next year’s official AFC Women’s Champions League which will launch for the first time.
The Sky Blues will be based in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan with a population of three million people. The double land-locked country (one of only two in the world) will play host to all four teams and the matches will be split between Jar Stadium and Pakhtakor Stadium in Tashkent City.
Three games in a short period of time will require plenty of rotation from Juric with his side returning to Australia after the tournament to play away at Adelaide United the next weekend.
It’s the second time in Sydney FC’s Women’s history they have taken part in international competition with the first coming back in 2013 in the Women’s International Club Championship in Japan.
The Sky Blues finished 3rd overall in that tournament, losing to Chelsea FC in the semi-final and winning 4-2 on penalties in the 3rd place play-off against Colo Colo from Chile.
Ballon D’Or runner-up Sam Kerr scored the winning penalty that evening and now it is time for new Sydney FC squad to step up.
Games are expected to be streamed on the Uzbekistan Football Association YouTube channel.
Full Fixture Details
Sydney FC (Australia) v Bam Khatoon (Islamic Republic of Iran) Monday 6th November 2023
Jar Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Kick Off: 9:00pm AEDT (3:00pm UZT – Local)
FC Nasef (Uzbekistan) v Sydney FC (Australia) Thursday 9th November 2023
Pakhtakor Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Kick Off: 12:00am AEDT (Friday midnight) (6:00pm UZT – Local)
Sydney FC (Australia) v Hyundai Red Steel Angels Women’s FC (Korea Republic) Sunday 12th November 2023
Jar Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Kick Off: 9:00pm AEDT (3:00pm UZT – Local)
Sydney FC AFC Women’s Club Championship Squad and Staff
| 1 | Jada | Whyman |
| 2 | Margaux | Chauvet |
| 3 | Charlotte | McLean |
| 4 | Tori | Tumeth |
| 5 | Kirsty | Fenton |
| 6 | Lucy | Johnson |
| 7 | Teigan | Collister |
| 9 | Shea | Connors |
| 13 | Aideen | Keane |
| 14 | Abbey | Lemon |
| 17 | Jynaya | Dos Santos |
| 18 | Taylor | Ray |
| 19 | Zara | Kruger |
| 20 | Princess | Ibini |
| 21 | Shay | Hollman |
| 22 | Indiana | Dos Santos |
| 23 | Fiona | Worts |
| 24 | Caley | Tallon-Henniker |
| 25 | Jessica | Seaman |
| 30 | Tahlia | Franco |
| 40 | Jasmine | Black |
| Head Coach | Ante | Juric |
| Team Manager | Jamison | Sexty |
| Assistant Coach | Thomas | Whiteside |
| S & C Coach | Alice | Kreisler |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Charles | Samushonga |
| Physiotherapist | Antonietta | Del Pinto |
| Team Doctor | Dr Jonathan | Attia |
