Western United was at the forefront of A-Leagues All Stars night on Friday with four players and two coaches shining on a special night for Australian football.
Ben Garuccio and Angus Thurgate both started as the men’s team took down a youthful Newcastle United 8-0, with Michael Theo serving as the goalkeeper coach.
WATCH: A-League All Stars Men enjoying Ironbark Fields as their training base ahead of the game
The men’s All Stars came bursting out of the blocks and Garuccio had a hand in the second goal on 25 minutes.
Bursting down the left-hand side on a trademark overlapping run, Garuccio’s cross bamboozled a Newcastle defender before Nicolas Milanovic turned it in from close range.
Garuccio had the Magpies’ defence on the back foot all night with that energy down the flank while Thurgate patrolled the midfield just as he did on a weekly basis for United this season.
Wearing his classic No.32, Thurgate collected two almost identical assists in the match, stepping into midfield to intercept the ball and play it forward – first teeing up Adam Taggart and then Apostolos Stamatelopoulos.
Patrick Kisnorbo’s side ultimately breezed to a crushing victory and the Western United involvement carried on in the women’s clash against Arsenal.
Kat Smith helped guide the team as an assistant coach to Joe Montemurro, with Alana Cerne starting as a right-back and going face to face with Matildas star Caitlin Foord and Ireland icon Katie McCabe.
Faced with a seemingly daunting task, Cerne was unwavering and shut out Arsenal’s star-studded left flank for 45 minutes and took the opportunity to venture forward herself on a couple of occasions.
The young defender was substituted at half-time before Grace Maher entered the field for the final 20 minutes.
WATCH: Highlights from the entertaining contest between the A-League All Stars Women and Arsenal
Returning to a midfield role having shone for United at centre-back this season, Maher oozed her customary class on the ball and helped the All Stars defend the likes of Kim Little and Chloe Lacasse in Arsenal’s ranks.
There was plenty of Green and Black representation in the stands to cheer the players and coaches on, too, capping off a spectacular night for Australian football.
Each of the Western United All Stars did the Club proud and will now earn a well-deserved break before attentions turn to next season in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Liberty A-League Women.
