Western United will be out for a piece of Club history on Friday night when it faces Central Coast Mariners in Round 21 of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men. Read the Match Preview, presented by Red Bull Australia.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League Men Round 21
Central Coast Mariners vs Western United
Friday, 28 February
Kick-off: 7:35pm AEDT
Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live on Paramount+
Western United team news
Charbel Shamoon has been named in the extended squad for the trip to Gosford after missing out on last week’s win over Adelaide United with a minor ankle knock.
Sebastian Pasquali is also back in the extended squad with John Aloisi continuing to report a largely fit and available first team squad.
Last time out
Western United rocketed back to winning ways last week, dispatching of second-placed Adelaide United 3-0 at Ironbark Fields.
Noah Botic continued his stellar run with the opening goal of the game before Hiroshi Ibusuki and Riku Danzaki rounded out the scoring in the second half, taking the Green and Black back up to third on the table.
Previous meetings
Central Coast have been a difficult opponent for Western over the years with eight wins to their name in the 12 outings so far.
United started well in the head-to-head matchup with three wins in the first five meetings but hasn’t managed to beat the Mariners since then, going back to April 2021.
That run is reflected in the matches at Industree Group Stadium, too, with United yet to pick up a point on the road against Central Coast.
Last month’s draw at Ironbark Fields broke a run of five straight losses, so Aloisi and his men will be hoping to build on that and secure a drought-breaking win on Friday.
Key Matchup: Angus Thurgate vs Harry Steele
Angus Thurgate’s return to the Western United line-up last week was instantly recognisable with the No.32 getting right back to his dominant ways in midfield after serving a suspension.
Outside of that one missed game, Thurgate has played every single minute of United’s campaign and developed into one of the very best players in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Always fancying himself to win a midfield battle, Thurgate will come up against Central Coast’s impressive 22-year-old Harry Steele.
Steele himself has started every match for the Mariners, stepping up in midfield after Max Balard and Josh Nisbet both left the reigning Champions in the off-season.
Thurgate will be out to stifle his opponent and provide his customary energy and quality on both sides of the ball to help drive United to an important three points.
Western United Player to Watch: Riku Danzaki
In his second season at Western United, Riku Danzaki has quietly enjoyed a fantastic run of form and become a key contributor to the Green and Black attack of late.
The Japanese winger has four goal involvements in his last six matches, and all six of his contributions have come in a span of 11 games since mid-December.
Danzaki with the 👑
— Western United FC (@wufcofficial) February 23, 2025
A fortunate snap shot from our Japanese winger puts the result beyond doubt 🙌#WUNvADL pic.twitter.com/y91zIyH4QK
His tally of three goals and assists already bests his return from last season – two goals and two assists – and a clean run of fitness has allowed Danzaki to feature in every game so far.
With fierce competition for those wide positions alongside the likes of Abel Walatee, Matthew Grimaldi and Luke Vickery, Danzaki is pushing his game to greater heights and will be eager to show that again in Gosford.
