The clash
Melbourne City FC will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to four matches when they take on Western Sydney on New Year’s Day at ANZ Stadium.
Head Coach Rado Vidosic’s side will be looking to continue the winning momentum, following their commanding 3-0 victory over Canberra United at AAMI Park in Round 8.
City winger Rhali Dobson opened the scoring for the hosts with a header from close range following a short corner, before Kyah Simon doubled the lead soon after with a thunderous header as she barged through two Canberra defenders to meet Tameka Butt’s perfectly weighted cross.
On the stroke of half-time, Dobson would go onto make it 3-0 and seal a blistering first-half performance. The winger beat her opponent, cutting in onto her left foot, before firing the ball into the top corner from outside the box – an incredible individual effort.
Canberra Coach Heather Garriock’s side responded in the second-half, but City held firm to continue their charge up the Westfield W-League ladder.
City will be looking to continue their march when they take on the Wanderers on New Year’s Day, but it won’t be easy against a resilient Western Sydney outfit on their home deck.
Like City, the Wanderers had a slow start to the season, before showing rapid improvement in December.
After earning a share of the spoils against Canberra in Round 6, the Wanderers suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss to Brisbane Roar at Dolphin Stadium last week.
An own goal by Sydney Miramontez opened the scoring for the Roar 34-minutes into the contest, before the Wanderers hit back through Georgia Yoeman-Dale in the 63rd minute. Despite equalising, the Wanderers were overcome by a late flurry from the home side, as goals to both Indiah-Paige Riley and Allira Toby sealed the points.
With both teams desperately seeking the three-points, we are set for a cracker at ANZ Stadium on New Year’s Day.
Team news
It’s an unchanged squad to the side which was selected to face Canberra in Round 8. Full team news here.
Last time they met
The last time the two teams met was on New Year’s Day of 2018, as City left it late to claim a 1-0 win over the Wanderers at ANZ Stadium.
A resilient Western Sydney outfit looked to have sealed a point at home against the reigning champions, until Jess Fishlock stepped up in the 90+2nd minute to break Wanderers hearts, latching onto Kyah Simon’s low cross with a first-time finish.
What was said
City Head Coach Rado Vidosic
“It’s going to be tough game as they have nothing to lose, we know that they’ll give everything that they’ve got, but if we can get another good result we are in the mix, we’re looking forward to it.”
Where and when
City take on the Wanderers at ANZ Stadium on Tuesday 1 January, kick-off 5:20pm, before they return to Melbourne to face Melbourne Victory at Epping Stadium on Saturday 5 January, kick-off 4:00pm. After two consecutive away fixtures, City returns to AAMI Park to host Brisbane Roar on Friday 11 January, kick-off 5:20pm, get your tickets here.
