Western United will be looking for a response in the Ninja A-League Women when Newcastle Jets head to Ironbark Fields on Friday night. Read our Match Preview, presented by Red Bull Australia.
Match Details
Ninja A-League Women Round 9
Western United vs Newcastle Jets
Friday, 3 January
Kick-off: 7:00pm AEDT
Ironbark Fields, Tarneit
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live and free on 10 Play, and on Paramount+
Western United Team News
It’s set to be a special night for Western United with Adriana Taranto returning to the squad for the first time since her ACL injury in March last year.
Not only will Friday night’s clash mark Adriana’s comeback, but sister Melissa is set to become the second-ever player to reach 50 Ninja A-League appearances for Western United.
Sandra Ibarguen is also poised to make her return for injury, giving Kat Smith a significant boost in attack.
Fellow striker Catherine Zimmerman will also celebrate a milestone of her own, reaching 50 appearances in the Ninja A-League competition.
Western United squad: 1. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (gk), 2. Emily ROACH, 4. Claudia MIHOCIC, 5. Aimee MEDWIN, 6. Chloe LOGARZO, 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO, 8. Sasha GROVE, 10. Kahli JOHNSON, 11. Sandra IBARGUEN, 15. Adriana TARANTO, 16. Melissa TARANTO, 18. Grace MAHER, 20. Keiwa HIEDA, 22. Alana CERNE, 24. Julia SARDO, 28. Isabel DEHAKIZ, 34. Catherine ZIMMERMAN, 36. Chloe LINCOLN (gk)
Last time out
United had a difficult night last time out, falling to a heavy defeat against Brisbane Roar last Sunday.
Chloe Logarzo scored from the penalty spot and Grace Maher sent a free-kick that was diverted in for an own goal to give the Green and Black some joy in the end, but it was a forgettable night for the girls in green at Ironbark Fields.
Previous Meetings
Western United has a deep history with Newcastle Jets in the Ninja A-League and will be looking to secure a much-needed win against what has been a tricky competitor in recent years.
United’s only win against the Jets is still a club record with a 6-0 scoreline securing the three points back in 2023.
The most recent meeting between the two sides came in Unite Round in November when a stunning Grace Maher strike secured a 1-1 draw for the Green and Black.
Key Matchup: Catherine Zimmerman vs Tiahna Robertson
Making her comeback off the bench last week, Zimmerman will be looking to pick up where she left off earlier on in the season and get right back to her dominant goal-scoring form.
The American attacker remains one of the Ninja A-League’s deadliest attackers and as she prepares to join the 50-game club in the competition, she will be ready to make that known once again.
Having scored against the Jets last season, the No.34 will be hoping to do so again in the face of a goalkeeper that is in fine form.
Coming off a clean sheet last week, Tiahna Robertson has had arguably two of the best games of her young professional career against Western United – one in that aforementioned Unite Round fixture and one in last season’s Elimination Final.
The 21-year-old has made herself known for her ability to make remarkable saves and Zimmerman will need to be at her best to find a way past and help United secure the win.
Western United Player to Watch: Adriana Taranto
It’s an easy one this week – all eyes will be on Adriana Taranto as she makes her long-awaited return to the pitch.
Fittingly, it was United’s first-ever match in Tarneit against Newcastle Jets that was Taranto’s first game missed due to injury, and now she is ready to make up for lost time.
The No.15 had her best campaign in the Ninja A-League last season with five goals and two assists, playing further forward and relishing a bit of added freedom.
Now having completed her rehab and worked tirelessly to return to full fitness, Taranto is raring to make an impact and will have the whole Western United support behind her when she steps on the pitch.
