Brisbane Roar head to Sydney for Unite Round this Friday night for their clash against Western Sydney Wanderers at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Roar come off the back of two big wins at home and are determined to make it three in a row in Sydney.
Western Sydney are winless in their last three games and Roar will look to capitalise on their winning form to get another three points.
WHAT WAS SAID
Head Coach Alex Smith was pleased to see his side secure another three points last Friday night with a confident 3-0 victory over Perth Glory and is determined to see Roar secure three wins in a row as they go into Unite Round.
“It was a fantastic game,” Smith said.
“Controlled the game from start to finish. Managed to capitalise on our dominance as well with a couple of very nice goals. I thought the second half, we managed the game really well and to get that third goal was important and some of the football we played was really pleasing.”
“Scary thing is, I think these girls have another level to go to as well.’
Tamar Levin is looking forward to Unite Round and determined to continue the winning streak after scoring her first A-League goal in the victory over Perth last Friday.
“It honestly means so much to me,’ Levin said.
“I’ve been playing here for three years now, and it’s been a long time coming. I’m so happy the moment finally came and to in front of home fans, family and friends there watching, it’s just special.”
“The football we’ve been playing is what Alex wants us to be playing. We’re gelling together as a team and can’t wait to keep going.”
“We know Western Sydney, they’re always a tough team to play, they’re always physical so we know that’s what they’re going to bring and we’re just going to match that. I have no doubt if we play the football we’ve been playing then we’ll bring home the three points.”
LAST TIME WE MET
Brisbane Roar were victorious against the Wanderers in their last meeting, after a 3-1 win in Round 14 of the 2023/24 season.
Kijah Stephenson opened the scoring in the 11th minute after Tameka Yallop played a ball through to Stephenson to beat the keeper and put it away at an open goal.
Western Sydney’s Holly Caspers received a pass on the run from Sophie Harding and scored the equaliser in the 39th minute.
Just after half-time, Tameka Yallop pounced on a deflection from Wanderers keeper to reclaim Roar’s lead.
In the 52nd minute former Roar striker Mia Corbin struck a loose ball into the back of the net to secure a 3-1 victory away from home.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Games: 18
Brisbane wins: 13
Western Sydney wins: 4
Draw: 1
TEAM NEWS
Roar’s 18-player squad remains unchanged as they head into Unite Round with a clean bill of health for Friday’s clash at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Tameka Yallop will break the all-time appearance record for Brisbane Roar when she plays her 153rd match on Friday night, surpassing the record set previously by Matildas teammate Clare Polkinghorne.
Sharn Freier is in the mix for further minutes after being substituted into the match after half-time last week following some precautionary tightness the week prior.
Brisbane Roar Ninja A-League Squad Round 4: 1. Keeley RICHARDS, 2. Leia VARLEY, 3. Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE 6. Holly MCQUEEN, 7. Momo HAYASHI, 8. Mariel HECHER, 10. Grace KUILAMU, 11. Sharn FREIER, 12. Tamar LEVIN, 13. Tameka YALLOP, 14. Zara KRUGER, 16. Chelsea BLISSETT, 17. Evdokia POPADINOVA, 18. Emily PRINGLE, 20. Tanaye MORRIS, 23. Isabela HOYOS, 32. Alicia WOODS, 33. Olivia SEKANY
INS:
OUTS:
UNAVAILABLE: 4. Kijah STEPHENSON (ACL), 9. Danelle TAN (knee), 19. Laini FREIER (leg), 22. Ruby CUTHBERT (leg)
MATCH DETAILS
Ninja A-League Women Round 4 (Unite Round)
Brisbane Roar FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Friday 22 November 2024, 7:15pm AEST KO
