Western United returns for its first Liberty A-League Women home match in Victoria in 2024, hosting Adelaide United for the first time in the competition.
Match Details
Liberty A-League Women Round 13
Western United vs Adelaide United
Sunday, 21 January
Kick-off: 5:00pm AEDT
City Vista Pavilion and Sports Field, Fraser Rise
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live and free on 10Play, and on Paramount+
Western United Team News
Kat Smith has enjoyed a strong run of performances with the same group of players since she arrived in December and has again stuck with an unchanged 18-player extended squad.
Being the first home game back at City Vista for some time, Western United fans will be able to celebrate the recent milestone achievements of Chloe Logarzo, Grace Maher and Adriana Taranto.
Hannah Keane returned to the bench last week and will pushing for a start on Sunday, while Keiwa Hieda will be hoping to keep her place in the XI after starting on the left wing in each of the past two games.
Avaani Prakash has featured in three straight matches off the bench and Natasha Dakic made her first appearance of the season last week. Both are in the extended squad and will be hoping for more opportunities again here.
Western United squad: 1. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (gk), 2. Stacey PAPADOPOULOS, 4. Jaclyn SAWICKI, 6. Chloe LOGARZO, 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO, 9. Hannah KEANE, 11. Emma ROBERS, 12. Lucy RICHARDS, 13. Avaani PRAKASH, 14. Natasha DAKIC, 15. Adriana TARANTO, 16. Melissa TARANTO, 18. Grace MAHER, 19. Tyla Jay VLAJNIC, 20. Keiwa HIEDA, 21. Hillary BEALL (gk), 22. Alana CERNE, 24. Julia SARDO
Last time out
Western United was left frustrated last time out, failing to capitalise on a dominant first half and ultimately falling to a 1-0 defeat against Sydney FC.
Playing as the home team at Allianz Stadium, United struggled to pick up where it left off after half-time, ending a three-game unbeaten run.
The Opponent
Adelaide United have struggled so far this Liberty A-League season but will remain fired up to lift themselves off the bottom of the table with a win on Sunday.
The Reds have been hamstrung by a league-worst 29 goals conceded, together with their 14 goals scored given them the lowest goal difference in the competition.
WATCH: The highlights last time out for Western United against Adelaide United
Despite their struggles, Adelaide still hold a significant threat going forward with quick and skilful attacking players.
American Mariah Lee is rapid up front and Alana Jancesvki has a wicked delivery on her left-foot, so United’s defence will have to be at its best to keep a clean sheet and help the Green and Black to win the game.
Key Matchup: Emma Robers vs Alana Jancevski
Having not started a game since early November, Emma Robers has returned to the line-up in the past two weeks to add her trademark assuredness in midfield.
The No.11 brings size and strength United’s spine with superb defensive awareness and excellent ball retention when in possession.
It is fitting that Robers has featured in all five of United’s wins and the side has failed to win in the three matches that she has not played in.
Her control and command of the centre of the pitch will be tested on Sunday by Jancevski, who is arguably Adelaide’s biggest attacking threat.
The Victorian local ranks fifth in the league in key passes and ninth in shot creating actions per 90 minutes, appearing as the focal point behind Adelaide’s chance creation.
Robers and her midfield partners will be eager to ensure they stifle Jancevski’s impact, as will Alana Cerne and Maher at the back as the side goes in search of a big three points.
Player to Watch: Melissa Taranto
Melissa Taranto was at her very best last time out against Adelaide, setting up her sister Adriana for two goals and dominating the midfield.
The No.16 has gone from strength to strength after making her return to the Liberty A-League last season and has developed into a pivotal member of Western United’s squad.
The only game that she has missed this season was a 3-1 defeat away to Wellington Phoenix in Round 4 and she has contributed in a big way going forward with one goal and three assists.
That total of four goal contributions is behind only Adriana, Logarzo and Keane in United’s ranks, an impressive feat given Taranto’s equally impressive exploits defensively.
She will be out to carry on her form on Sunday and produce another match-winning display against the Reds as United looks to push up the table heading into the final 10 weeks of the season.
Words from Kat Smith
On the positive attacking play last week against the league’s best defence
“We’re looking to get in those goal-scoring opportunities and do it our way, in our build-up and the way we want to progress through teams.
“We saw that against Sydney, and that probably puts a little bit of validity on what we’re doing because their previous defensive record.
“We’ll take those positives, but having said that we want to be a Championship-winning team, so we’ve got to score against the best defensive teams.”
On the return to City Vista for just her second home match in Victoria at the helm
“I know that home game we had against Perth, what we felt with the crowd behind us. We’re very much looking forward to that.
“It was a fantastic week here with our open training, we had so many young kids around, new fans, existing fans, the Western Core were down. That was great to see, and to get that feel and that buzz going into the home game will be great.”
