There’ll be a real international feel at the SFS this weekend when Sydney FC takes on front-runners, the Brisbane Roar in Round-4 of the Westfield W-League.
The Sydney Football Stadium is no stranger to hosting international competition and this weekend-s Westfields W-League clash between Sydney FC and the Brisbane Roar will have that kind of feel about it with up to 24 internationally capped players available for the match.
As mentor of the Sky Blue women and the Westfield Young Matildas, Alen Stajcic has coached the majority of the players and with so much international experience on the pitch at one time, he is excited.
“It-s probably going to be one of the highlights for the game of women-s football in this country with so many really good experienced players in both teams,” he said. “I am sure it-s going to be a hard physical contest with a high amount of technical players and really good footballers so I am expecting a really exciting match.”
After taking the title last season Brisbane has continued its winning ways. The league leaders have three wins from three starts and are yet to concede a goal, and Sydney is expecting a tight and exciting contest.
“There probably won-t be more than a goal in it either way because the teams are so equally matched in terms of talent and form,” Stajcic continued. “It will be who ever can produce that something brilliant or maybe the odd mistake that might win someone the game.”
Having worked with many of the Brisbane players on the international stage, he knows his side will have to be on its game to take the points on Sunday.
“I certainly know most of them inside out, I-ve coached a fair portion of them for a fairly long time,” he explained. “The people who I think are key players, Tameka Butt and Alise Kellond-Knight, I-ve coached quite a bit in the Young Matildas for the last three or four years. Obviously (that) helps you identify things they are good at and maybe the odd weakness that they have as well.”
After stumbling in the opening round the Sky Blues have found form with two straight away wins and head into round four knowing that another win will cement their place in the top half of the table. They-ll be hoping to do this in front of a good crowd when they play the first game of a double-header against the Roar at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday.
“It would be lovely to get a lot of support. I think it-s time that the women-s football community really come out and support the W-League. We had a really decent turn out for the first game as well, which was pleasing, but I hope we can get even more fans there this week.”
Sydney-s women will kick-off proceedings at the SFS at 2:15pm on Sunday, ahead of the Hyundai A-League clash between Sydney and Brisbane which will get underway at 5:00pm.
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