Last season’s champions Sydney FC will lock horns with current ladder leaders Perth Glory this Sunday in what is sure to be a fascinating match up.
Recent games between the pair have been entertaining and high scoring encounters and Perth Glory have only managed to defeat Sydney FC three time in the previous 10 games while the Sky Blues have run riot and scored 29 times to Perth’s 18.
Also, in the previous 16 meetings between the pair, Sydney FC hold a bigger win advantage against this week’s opponents. The Sky Blues have nine wins over the Western Australian side’s seven.
As it stands, there are a few points that are dividing the two teams on the table, Perth Glory sit top of league standings having 16 points after seven games while Sydney FC have nine points with two games in hand. A win for the Sky Blues will see them cut that lead to just four points with two games in hand still.
This will be a challenging meeting with both coming from good results from the previous weekend. The Sky Blues defeated Newcastle Jets away from home with Cortnee Vine scoring the game’s only goal in the 84th minute after returning from injury off the bench.
As for Perth Glory, Millie Farrow scored a hat-trick for them to secure a come from behind win against the other title contenders Melbourne City, who had dispatched Juric’s side 3-2 a fortnight prior. Perth also came from behind to win this encounter, a feat that Sydney FC are yet to do this season.
Perth Glory’s recent form has been one of the best in the league having only lost once this season to Wellington away and they rightly sit at the top of the table. The Sky Blues will do everything in their power to halt their run of results.
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium witnessed a six goal thriller between the pair last season with the Sky Blues scoring two goals in the first half and completely dominating proceedings. Somehow, Perth managed to draw level but Sydney FC flexed their muscles and netted two second half goals from Madison Haley and Princess Ibini to seal the win.
The key players to watch out for in this Sunday clash will be on form English forward Fiona Worts who has scored five goals in her previous seven matches and Perth Glory’s leading top scorer and leading assist provider Millie Farrow who netted a hat-trick last weekend, the first for the Glory since Sam Kerr.
Another player to keep an eye will be promising young player Maddie Caspers who recently signed for Sydney FC and put in a dominant performance against the Newcastle Jets last weekend which earned her the player of the match award.
Sydney FC Head Coach Ante Juric described Cortnee Vine and Kirsty Fenton’s injury comebacks as “a big lift for the girls” and expressed his delight for having his most influential stars back in contention in coming weeks which will boost squad’s moral.
Fans should anticipate an enthralling meeting between two of the Liberty A-League’s top teams with high energy football on display, and the Sky Blues will use it as an opportunity to climb up the table, reducing the league leaders’ point margin with games in hand.
Match Details
Perth Glory v Sydney FC
Liberty A-League Round Eight
Sunday 17th December 2023
Macedonia Park, Perth, Western Australia
Kick Off: 10pm AWDT (7pm AEDT)
Broadcast Live: Paramount+ & 10Play
