Adelaide United 1-0 Western Sydney Wanderers
by Alice de Koster-Kitto (27/12/24)
Above: Erin Healy (second left) celebrates her winning goal for Adelaide United. Photo: A-Leagues.
Adelaide United have prolonged their winning streak against Western Sydney Wanderers to nine games after defeating them 1-0 at Coopers Stadium today.
Early dominance from the home side made for an exhilarating match from the first touch. An attempt from Fiona Worts almost put the hosts in the lead just five minutes in, however, Western Sydney’s Sham Khamis continued her outstanding spell of form by keeping the ball from the back of the net. It would be the first of many smart saves from the 29-year-old keeper.
Khamis kept the match scoreless for much longer than it probably should have, considering Adelaide’s command of the pitch.
By the 30th minute, it had become a matter of when Adelaide would score, rather than if they would score, with 10 shots on goal, against Western Sydney’s one. Despite several chances and near misses, it remained goalless at the break.
Worts was a stand-out for the South Australian side, as she has been across the A-League Women season thus far. The English attacker has a great diversity that has allowed her to create chances, while simultaneously capitalising on opportunities herself consistently.
The 67th minute saw Erin Healy net the first and only goal of the match, putting Adelaide United in the lead, and gearing the hosts toward a well-fought win.
Although the Reds were very clearly the dominant side for the majority of the match, it is a testament to the Wanderer’s defense that Healy’s goal was the only of the several good attempts to reach the back of the net. The strike holds great significance, as not only did it secure Adelaide’s win, but it also marked Healy’s first A-League Women goal.
As stoppage time approached, Western Sydney Wanderers continued their defensive tactics, as Adelaide relentlessly searched for a second goal. It became quite apparent that a goal was not building for the visitors, with only a few shots, and even fewer on target.
Although a second goal seemed imminent, the hosts ultimately could not find the back of the net again, ending the match in a well-deserved 1-0 victory over the Wanderers.
The win marks the Reds’ ninth consecutive win over Western Sydney, and their second of the season, after they were victorious just under seven weeks ago, defeating the New South Wales side 2-0 at Wanderers Football Park.
Adelaide United will head to Woy Woy Oval to face Central Coast Mariners next week, while Western Sydney Wanderers are back home to take on Wellington Phoenix. Both of these matches will be crucial for the respective sides with Adelaide fighting to improve their current fourth-place ranking.
Western Sydney now need to gain some points and move up the ladder out of 11th place, and the pressure will be on at home.
Team: ADELAIDE UNITED (3-4-1-2): Jenkins, E. Hodgson, Leon, McNamara, Tonkin, Tolland, Karambasis, Dewey, Condon, Dawber, Worts. Substitutes: Grove, Bowler, Healy, Morgan, Sasaki.
Scorers: Healy 68′.
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-4-1-1): Khamis, Ferris, Harrison, Matos, Bennett, Chessari, Harada, Younis, Rue, Saveska, Harding. Substitutes: Segavcic, Price, Trew, Kapetanellis, Lobo
Referee: Isabella Mossin.
Attendance: 3,809.
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