Red & Black meets Sky Blue in an historic Westfield W-League Sydney Derby.
Red & Black meets Sky Blue in an historic Westfield W-League Sydney Derby.
Grab your tickets to the Sydney Derby double header here.
When the Westfield W-League fixtures were announced back in September, one fixture stood out from all the rest.
Every Sydney Derby is special but Saturday will see the Wanderers and the Sky Blues battle it out just hours before their Hyundai A-League counterparts do the same.
It’s the first time Westfield W-League and Hyundai A-League Sydney Derbies have been put on the same bill and it represents a big chance for the women to grab the spotlight.
There have been some hot-tempered Sydney Derby clashes in the Westfield W-League in recent seasons and given the context of the season, there should be plenty of feeling in Saturday’s match.
As things approach the halfway point, both teams will be hoping to stay within touching distance of a coveted top four spot.
Sydney FC currently occupy sixth spot with six points, three points off the fourth-placed Newcastle Jets, while the Wanderers sit two points and two spots behind the Sky Blues in eighth.
In what is a 14-game season, every point on offer is crucial and neither side will be content with anything other than three points on Saturday.
The Wanderers put in an impressive display against Perth Glory last week at Marconi Stadium but were undone in a 1-0 defeat courtesy of a lone goal from the untouchable Sam Kerr.
It was the latest cruel blow for the Wanderers, who are without a win since Round 2’s victory over Adelaide United.
Coach Rich Byrne will be encouraged however with the performance against the first-placed Glory and will be hoping his side can carve out a result against the cross-town rivals.
The Wander Women have no shorter of game changers in their squad, with imports American Lo’eau LaBonta and Israeli Lee Falkon having shown their quality, and will also look to the leadership of experienced campaigners like Ellie Brush and Erica Halloway to lead the charge.
Sydney FC meanwhile will be high on confidence after notching up their second win of the season with a 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory at Cromer Park with goals from Princess Ibini and Lisa De Vanna.
Having gone winless in the first three rounds of the competition, it’s been somewhat of below par season for the Sky Blues, who only narrowly missed out on last season’s Premiership.
Coached by former Socceroo Ante Juric, the Sky Blues do boast an impressive roster with including Matildas Lisa De Vanna, Chloe Logarzo and Amy Harrison, and the Wanderers will need to be wary of the firepower the Sydney FC possess.
