Western United will welcome Auckland FC to Ironbark Fields on Saturday 15 February for what will be the biggest Isuzu UTE A-League Men clash that Tarneit has seen.
The burgeoning entertainment precinct in the West has seen some incredible action in the past 12 months, but there may be nothing that quite matches the international firepower and thrilling drama in store as Ironbark rolls out the red carpet for the current league leaders.
The Black Knights have taken the Isuzu UTE A-League by storm in the first season, splashing the cash on a star-studded line-up that includes Japanese icon Hiroki Sakai, English Premier League goalkeeper Alex Paulsen and flairy international attackers Guillermo May and Max Mata.
Steve Corica’s men have navigated just about every team put in front of them so far this season, but after going unbeaten in seven matches and conceding only one goal at home in that time, they met a formidable opposition in Western United.
Three goals in the first half – from Riku Danzaki, Noah Botic and Hiroshi Ibusuki – set John Aloisi’s men on their way to a history-making victory, with Matthew Grimaldi adding the icing on the cake in the closing stages.
WATCH: The highlights from Western United’s demolition of Auckland FC in December
That win announced the Green and Black as a force in this season’s Isuzu UTE A-League, forming part of a club-record run of form that has catapulted the team into fourth place on the table.
The Green and Black suffocated Auckland on that day with relentless pressing and devastating attacking play, attributes that have become synonymous with Aloisi and the team’s style this season.
United has been playing some scintillating football, wowing the growing crowds in Tarneit and building a reputation across the league as a team that never stops going until the final whistle.
A little under two months on from that historic day in Auckland, the rematch is going to be the biggest sporting event the West has ever seen.
The boys in green will be up for the massive occasion with the raucous Ironbark Fields crowd behind them on Saturday 15 February.
It’s time to rise up, to fill the stands in Tarneit and represent the West with pride. Members, take your seats. Fans, grab your tickets. Let’s make more history, together.
