Wanderers Westfield W-League Head Coach Rich Byrne reflects on the team’s first win of the season and the momentum heading into Friday night’s match against Brisbane Roar.
Wanderers Westfield W-League Head Coach Rich Byrne reflects on the team’s first win of the season and the momentum heading into Friday night’s match against Brisbane Roar.
A reminder that Wanderers Members, Servicewomen and Men all have free access to the Wanderers Round 3 Westfield W-League match.
The Wanderers secured their first win of the season last Friday night against Adelaide United thanks to striker Rosie Sutton’s last-minute goal.
Sutton is part of a number of fresh faces that have joined an experienced Wanderers outfit this season, one which Byrne argues is the most experienced yet.
“I think if you look at all the players and if you add them up in terms of Westfield W-League appearances each player has had, I would say it is quite an experienced team compared to previous seasons,” said Byrne.
“Rosie has that extra quality and experience.
“When you’ve got a player like Rosie on Friday who can come off the bench – what a player to have!
“In our final third we have a luxury of players who can do that this season.”
Part of that experience has stemmed from the addition of a number of international players in the side. Marlous Pieëte and Maruschka Waldus from the Netherlands, Lee Falkon from Israel and Lo’eau LaBonta from the United States.
“The Internationals bring experience,” explained Byrne.
“They’ve played at a high level in Europe where the game is a religion.
“So they bring that over with them, they bring their experience and they just lift the team.”
The team’s first win of the season gives them some added momentum heading into Friday’s home match against Brisbane Roar with Byrne expecting a tough fight.
“I think scoring in the last minute is a bit more romantic than scoring earlier on in the game, isn’t it?” said Byrne.
“The most important thing is that we won the game against Adelaide and now we can kick on and hopefully get a good result again Brisbane.
“Brisbane will be a tough game, there’s no doubt about that. We watched them against Sydney FC and they played fantastically.
“It’s going to be a very tough game and we are going to give it our all.
“Overall, every team has improved this season in the Westfield W-League.
“Every local girl that has come from a local team has gotten better and I just think it’s a great time in Australia for Women’s football.”
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Brisbane Roar
Marconi Stadium, 7:30pm
