The Sydney FC women will return to Leichhardt Oval, aiming to extend their six-game unbeaten streak when they play in a Grand Final rematch against Western United this Sunday.
After defeating their cross-town rivals, the Sky Blues sit in third place with 30 points on the Liberty A-League ladder.
They are only five points behind first-placed Western, meaning a win would put the Sky Blues two points and a game in hand closer to the summit.
With five matches to go and only three points separating second and fifth, this game will be crucial to the outcome of Sydney FC’s season, as this is the last game they play against a team currently sitting in the top four before the end of the season.
Despite missing six players to the Young Matildas continental campaign, the Sky Blues soared to a 2-0 victory against the Wanderers in the Sydney derby last weekend as Mackenzie Hawkesby and debutant Caley Tallon-Henniker netted Sydney FC’s crucial goals.
Jada Whyman also secured back-to-back clean sheets in front of the A-League Women’s second-largest crowd. The Matildas keeper only faced two shots on target all match, despite the Sky Blues having less possession and more passes in their final third.
This weekend’s fixture will be the sixth time United and Sydney FC play, with Western coming in hot form with seven straight wins and one loss in the past 11 games. This loss came against the Sky Blues in January.
Western has dominated in attack over recent weeks since going down to Ante Juric’s side, seeing 16 goals soar into the back of the net.
Last week, they slotted four past Michelle Heyman’s Canberra United, where a hattrick to Hannah Keane and a Chloe Logarzo penalty saw the fierce attacking duo continue their dominance.
United controlled the match, recording 21 shots and almost 30 more passes in the final third compared to their opponents. Canberra were troubled by Chloe Logarzo’s through balls, which saw 15 shots made in the box.
One’s to Watch:
Kirsty Fenton
Kirsty Fenton has had a stellar season with Sydney FC, showing she can play defender or attacker and still be a vital team member.
Her playmaking skills saw her make the team of the week last matchday, and she came second in the ones to watch under 21 behind teammate Maddy Caspers.
The all-rounder makes almost 74 touches and 27.9 passes per game, recovering 6.9 balls per game each week. Last week against the Wanderers, she clocked in the highest interception count with 5 out of the Sky Blues defenders.
Mackenzie Hawkesby:
Hawkesby continues to go from strength to strength this season and had a dominant game in the Sydney derby last Saturday.
Like Fenton, she is one of the Sky Blues’ energetic playmakers, recording seven key passes, crossing six times, and creating three big chances against the Wanderers.
The midfielder also scored the crucial opener, slotting her second of the season and continuing her dominant form when playing in Sydney.
Chloe Logarzo and Aiden Keane:
Matilda Chloe Logarzo has recorded the fourth-highest number of goals scored and third-highest number of goal contributions this season in the A-League women, behind American teammate Hannah Keene.
Together, these two players have scored 18 of Western’s 33 goals.
Expect Logarzo to find Keane, as the Matilda provided four key passes last week, and Keane clocked in six shots.
H2H:
| 8-6-3 | SYD – RECORD – WUN | 11-2-5 |
| 3-2 | H2H | 2-3 |
| 1-1 | H2H IN SYD LAST 10 GAMES | 1-1 |
| 46.5% | POSSESSION PG | 48.9% |
| 1.2 | GOALS SCORED PG | 1.8 |
| 0.7 | GOALS CONCEDED PG | 1.4 |
| 16.9 | SHOTS PG | 15.9 |
| 6.9 | SHOT ON TARGET PG | 6.2 |
| 8 | CLEAN SHEETS | 4 |
| 2.5 | SAVES PG | 3.2 |
| 255 | PASSES PG | 283 |
| 9.8 | FOULS PG | 7.2 |
| 1.6 | YELLOW CARDS PG | 0.9 |
Team News:
Neither of the teams recorded injuries in their games last week. Still, Indiana Dos Santos, Jynaya Dos Santos, Maddie Caspers, Shay Hollman, Tahlia Franco and Zara Kruger will all be out due to the U-20 Women’s Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.
Kahli Johnson will also be unavailable for Western as she is on Young Matildas duty.
Last time out:
Sydney FC met Western United for the first time since Sydney’s Championship-winning victory in the A-League Grand Final last season at Unite Round in January.
The game was tense and even, as Sydney FC only recorded two more passes in their opponent’s half than Western and United registered one more shot, than the Sky Blues.
United dominated the first half, sending in cross after cross, which Charlotte Mclean and Jordan Thompson cleared.
United nearly penetrated the Sky Blues when Kwiwa Hieda dribbled through the Sydney defence, but Whyman was there to block her shot.
It took almost an hour for the first goal when Cortnee Vine came off the bench and scored right before the hour mark. Princess Ibini curled the ball into Vine’s feet, who poked the ball beyond the keeper.
The Sky Blues kept on top of the ball, seeing Sydney FC run out 1-0 victors.
Match Details: Pride Celebration
Sydney FC v Western United
Liberty A-League Round 19
Saturday 9th March, 2024
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney, NSW
Kick off: 7:00pm AEDT
Gates Open: 6:00pm AEDT
Broadcast Live: Paramount+ & 10Play
Join the Conversation: #SYDvWUN & #SydneyIsSkyBlue
Matchday Partner: Navarra Venues
