By Kieran Yap 31/1/24
Above: Sophie Harding celebrates another goal for the Wanderers. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers
Wanderers striker talks to Impetus71 about her season so far, adjusting to a new position and Matildas ambitions.
Sophie Harding is a striker in form. The Western Sydney Wanderers are entrenched in the finals race, fans are daring to dream and their number nine is one of the main reasons they can feel confident against any opponent. Harding has scored eight goals so far this season, and emerged as one of the best strikers in the league. Although The Wanderers attack has multiple threats, she is the focal point and the spearhead of Robbie Hooker’s lineup.
While this looks like her breakout season, a look back shows a steady upward trajectory. From playing on the wing at the Newcastle Jets to moving alongside Sarina Bolden last season as part of a dual threat, to finally emerging as a solo centre forward. Harding has evolved her game, added strings to her bow and become one of the A-League Women’s most tactically versatile strikers.
“I always considered myself a winger,” Harding told Impetus71
“Just because of my speed and I like taking people on.
“I was always more of the assist person than a goal scorer, But at The Wanderers we were lacking someone to score goals and I kind of took on that role when we moved to a two up top and I really like it.
“I get to be in front of goal more rather than out wide and tracking back. I get to play an aggressive style of play where I can win the ball and attack the goal rather be back in my own half.
“You have to be able to run in behind, you have to be able to come and get the ball at your feet, that’s an aspect of my game that I’m working on.
“I’m pretty confident once I’m in behind defenders and confident taking on players but just working on holding the ball up for my teammates with my back to goal.”
That ability to play with her back to goal was on full display in the close win over The Central Coast Mariners. With the defence sitting deep and paying close attention to Harding, her role was to bring the midfielders into play and open up space for her fellow forwards. Central striker is a role that she is still learning while excelling in, but by the end of the 2022/23 campaign she feeling at home in the position.
“I don’t know if there was a moment, but it was definitely towards the back end of last season I started understanding the role. I really enjoy the formation. It allows me to get wide and be central.”
Against Brisbane Roar in Round 14, Harding’s ability to torment both fullbacks was clear. She created chances with crosses from the right and cruised past the Brisbane defence on the left. Only the woodwork denied her a spectacular assist after teeing up Maliah Morris.
The way that the Wanderers play this season has been successful, but it requires the likes of Harding and Holly Caspers (three goals in three games) to be clinical when chances arrive and to work hard until they do.
“We know that we aren’t always going to have the most possession,” says Harding
“There are some real quality teams in this league. We play to our strengths we have very fast physical players. We all work for each other, so we have sort of triggers that we see on the field. Once one of us goes we all go.
“Once we win the ball back, we’re in dangerous areas and that’s how we’re performing best.”
The Western Sydney attacking press was on full display in the 1-0 win against Melbourne City. Harding, Caspers and Maliah Morris set up in a defensive zone, almost daring the league’s top team to try and pass through them.
When the opening came, they pounced and Caspers scored the only goal of the game. Against other teams, it is Harding’s pace that can do the damage. She sealed the result away to Perth Glory with a fantastic solo goal.
Harding raced into space on the left, cut into the penalty box and then took one last touch around the oncoming defender to score the crucial goal. It was a moment that combined pace and composure to produce a moment of match winning skill.
That confidence is found throughout the team. Despite a turbulent start to the season off the pitch, The Wanderers have thrived on it, and the results have been well deserved.
“We played against the top three teams the last three weeks and none of them scored against us,” says Harding.
“That’s brought us a lot of confidence.
“We know what we’re capable of and we definitely have a sense of unity and hunger to win. I think that comes from all our staff, all our coaches and as a collective we’re all on the same page which is good, but we’re just taking each game as it comes and ticking them off.”
Harding has improved The Wanderers, but the move home from Newcastle has been mutually beneficial, and not just because her potential as a striker has been unlocked.
“I finished my second year at Newcastle and was thinking about a few different paths. I had a few different opportunities and sort of last minute this one came up.
At the time my family were going through a rough time, and I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to stay at home and get to be around my friends and family while playing football.
“With The Jets sometimes I couldn’t switch off from football, because I’d go home to my housemate who I played with. Now I’ve got such a healthy relationship with the game and training. I get the opportunity to spend my downtime with my friends and family.”
Harding’s eye catching performances have inevitably led to talk of a Matildas call up. She has the attributes to trouble most defenses and Australia is lacking in options for pure strikers. Although she is firmly focused on helping the Wanderers to a first finals appearance since 2020, international football is something she aspires to.
“It’s definitely something that would be incredible.
“It’s been a goal of mine since I was a kid. I think that a lot of the girls in this league would have that aspiration.
“It’s not something I want to think about too much, just talking each step as it comes.
“I think I have a lot to work on in other areas on the field. Of course, it’s a goal of mine but that the moment I’m focused on getting my team into finals, getting some silverware and keep scoring goals. Hopefully the rest will fall into place if I focus on those things.”
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