Western United ALW Preview: Round 2 vs Central Coast Mariners

A New Season

The Western United ALW team is ready to kick off their 2022-23 season against the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday, November 20th at Morshead Park. The team is coming off a disappointing 2021-22 season, where they finished in eighth place with a record of 3-7-4. They will be looking to improve on that record this season and make a run at the playoffs.

The team has made several changes to their roster this season, including the addition of several new players. Some of the key additions include goalkeeper Sarah Willacy, defender Ally Haran, and forwards Hannah Keane and Jessica McDonald. They will also need to replace long-time captain Laura Alleway, who departed to rivals Melbourne City during the off-season.

Key Matchups

There are several key matchups to watch in this game. One of the most important will be the battle between Western United's forwards and Central Coast's defense. Western United has several dangerous attacking players, including Hannah Keane, Jessica McDonald, and Lola Kuzmanović. Central Coast's defense will need to be at their best to contain them.

Another key matchup will be in the midfield. Western United has a strong midfield led by Yukari Kinga and Melina Ayres. Central Coast will need to find a way to control the midfield if they want to have a chance to win.

Prediction

This is a tough game to predict. Both teams have made several changes to their rosters and it is hard to say how they will perform. However, Western United has the home-field advantage and they should be able to pull out a narrow victory.