Western United ALW Team News: Round 22 vs Central Coast

Western United’s final extended squad of the 2023/24 Liberty A-League Women regular season is in as the side prepares to take on Central Coast Mariners.

There will be a milestone moment in midfield for Melissa Taranto to headline the team news this week, with the Western United maestro set to make her 50^th appearance in the Liberty A-League.

The No.16 has been a mainstay for the Green and Black across the past two seasons, missing only two games since United entered the competition.

Kat Smith will unfortunately be without Hannah Keane for this game and for the finals series after it was confirmed on Wednesday that the American had suffered a ruptured patellar tendon.

Keane joins Adriana Taranto on the long-term injury list while Chloe Logarzo also remains sidelined as she continues to work towards playing a part in the post-season.

With her No.9 out, Smith has recalled Kiara De Domizio into her extended squad to bolster her options in the attacking third.

The 22-year-old has featured twice this season and could be eying increased involvement in the final weeks of the campaign.

Lucy Richards and Natasha Dakic are also named in the 18-player extended squad and will be hopeful of travelling to Gosford for the Thursday night showdown.

Alana Cerne is poised to take sole ownership of the honour of being United’s most-capped Liberty A-League Women player with appearance No.41. Cerne and centre-back partner Grace Maher will be hoping to complete a season in which they will have played every minute of every game.

Despite her missing the game, Keane will scoop the team’s golden boot for the second straight season and could also land on top of the squad’s assist tally. She set up four goals, with Melissa Taranto and Grace Maher close behind on three and Keiwa Hieda and Tyla Jay Vlajnic on two.

Full Western United extended squad

Western United squad: 1. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (gk), 2. Stacey PAPADOPOULOS, 4. Jaclyn SAWICKI, 5. Aimee MEDWIN, 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO, 10. Kahli JOHNSON, 11. Emma ROBERS, 12. Lucy RICHARDS, 13. Avaani PRAKASH, 14. Natasha DAKIC, 16. Melissa TARANTO, 18. Grace MAHER, 19. Tyla Jay VLAJNIC, 20. Keiwa HIEDA, 22. Alana CERNE, 24. Julia SARDO, 31. Kathrine LARSEN, 34. Catherine ZIMMERMAN

Ins: 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO (promoted), 12. Lucy RICHARDS, 14. Natasha DAKIC

Outs: 9. Hannah KEANE (injured)

Unavailable: 6. Chloe LOGARZO (injured), 15. Adriana TARANTO (injured) 17. Raquel DERALAS (injured)