Western United heads back to New South Wales to take on Sydney FC in Round 8 of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men season on Saturday. Read our Match Preview, presented by Red Bull Australia.
Match Details
2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League Men Round 8
Sydney FC vs Western United
Saturday, 14 December
Kick-off: 5:00pm AEDT
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live on Paramount+
Western United Team News
John Aloisi has named an identical 20-man extended squad from the one selected for last week’s 0-0 draw against Macarthur FC at Ironbark Fields.
Ben Garuccio and James Donachie remain absent in defence so youngsters Dylan Leonard and Charbel Shamoon are set to continue to shine.
Abel Walatee will be hoping to keep his place in the starting XI in competition with Matthew Grimaldi and Ramy Najjarine, while Jordan Lauton and James York will be looking for opportunities in midfield with Sebastian Pasquali still sidelined.
Western United squad: 1. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7. Ramy NAJJARINE, 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10. Matthew GRIMALDI, 13. Tate RUSSELL, 14. Jake NAJDOVSKI, 19. Noah BOTIC, 20. Abel WALATEE, 22. Kane VIDMAR, 23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 24. Michael RUHS, 29. Charbel SHAMOON, 30. Dylan LEONARD, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matthew SUTTON (gk), 34. James YORK, 44. Jordan LAUTON, 47. Luka COVENY, 77. Riku DANZAKI
Last time out
Western United huffed and puffed and threw everything at Macarthur in Tarneit last week, but just couldn’t break the door down and had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Riku Danzaki and Hiroshi Ibusuki had big chances in the first half as United looked sharp in attack but just lacked the necessary incision to find the back of the net.
Sydney FC fell to a 2-1 defeat against Central Coast Mariners in their Round 7 encounter, seeing goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares sent off just before half-time.
Previous Meetings
Western United has three wins to its name against Sydney FC, the last of which came courtesy of an Alessandro Diamanti stunner in Hobart in January 2023.
The Sky Blues have been a formidable outfit over a number of years and have control of the head-to-head battle, though the last four meetings have been split evenly – a win each and two draws.
Key Matchup: Matt Sutton vs Patryk Klimala
Matt Sutton has been relishing his opportunity to start in goal for United thus far, performing superbly through the first even matches of the campaign.
Last week was Sutton’s first clean sheet of the season, something he contributed to in fine fashion with an early contender for save of the season – a sprawling effort to keep Kealey Adamson’s long-range strike out of the top corner.
The Sydney local will be hoping to continue his strong form back in his home city and will need to be at his best to keep out one of the league’s best strikers.
Patryk Klimala has scored in all three of Sydney’s wins so far in 2024/25 and is coming off a goal-scoring performance in last week’s defeat to Central Coast, as well.
Only Nicolas Milanovic has scored more than Sydney’s frontman and he will undoubtedly be in a predatory mood again on Saturday.
Sutton will be eager to maintain his current run of performances as he chases consecutive clean sheets and a big three points for the Green and Black.
Western United Player to Watch: Abel Walatee
Given his first opportunity to start last week, Walatee made good on John Aloisi’s faith with an electric performance on the left wing.
Walatee’s blend of speed, skill and strength was too much for Macarthur’s defence to handle at times and had United on the front foot every time the play went down his side.
With that being his first start in professional football, there is only more to come from United’s No.20 as he continues to realise his enormous potential.
Whether it be from the start again or off the bench this week, Walatee will be hoping for a repeat performance and to add some goals and assists to help carry United to victory.
