Glory Liberty A-League Head Coach Alex Epakis believes that his charges are well placed to maintain their impressive away record when they visit Western United on Friday (kick-off at 2pm WST, watch live and free on 10Play).
View his full pre-match media conference HERE.
View Morgan Aquino’s pre-match media conference HERE.
The women in purple have lost just three times on the road in 2023 and enjoyed an eye-catching 3-1 win over Melbourne City on their most recent trip east.
Another victory would firm up their position at the top of the table and the Head Coach sees no reason why they cannot claim maximum points at City Vista Recreation Reserve.
“We love the travel,” he said.
“We use it as an opportunity to really lock in.
“It gives us a good amount of time to really focus, to have team meetings and player discussions and really prepare well.
“I think the players are really galvanised by the opportunity of being away.
“We come together well and I think we’ve had a really good run away from home this calendar year, so we’re looking forward to doing our best to continue that run.”
Not that Epakis is underestimating a United side which reached last term’s Grand Final.
“You look at their squad and there are some experienced players in it,” he said.
“They had a fantastic season last season… and a lot of those players are still there.
“So they are definitely a team that we are taking seriously, as we do every week.
“They’ve got some really good part of their game which we need to be mindful of.
“Hannah Keane in attack is a handful, so we need to be mindful of her and [Chloe] Logarzo up front as well.
“They have attacking options that can cause any team damage, so we’ve got to make sure we’re structurally really good and sound.
“Then with the ball, I want us to be a little bit cleaner than we were against Sydney, just do more with the possession that we have and be a bit more dynamic in our attack.
“If we do that, it just continues to add more to our game and that’s always our focus; not too much on the opposition, more on what we can be doing better.”
In terms of early squad news, meanwhile, Epakis confirmed that New Zealand international Grace Jale is back to full fitness and poised to return to the squad, while skipper Tash Rigby has also pulled up ok and will lead the side once again.
Western United head into the game in inconsistent form having won two and lost two of their last four outings and the Victorians now have a new face in the technical area in the form of Kat Smith who replaced Mark Torcaso as Head Coach at the start of the month.
They have only failed to score in two games this season, with Keane, Logarzo and Adriana Taranto all finding the net on two occasions and Melissa Taranto chipping in with one goal and two assists.
At the other end of the pitch, meanwhile, US import Hillary Beall is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the competition and Smith can also call upon the services of experienced and versatile former Canberra United defender Grace Maher.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2023/24 Season Round 9
Western United v Perth Glory
City Vista Recreation Reserve
Friday 22 December 2023
Kick-off: 2pm WST (5pm Local)
Western United squad: 1. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (gk), 2. Stacey PAPADOPOULOS, 4. Jaclyn SAWICKI, 6. Chloe LOGARZO, 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO, 9. Hannah KEANE, 11. Emma ROBERS, 12. Lucy RICHARDS, 13. Avaani PRAKASH, 14. Natasha DAKIC, 15. Adriana TARANTO, 16. Melissa TARANTO, 18. Grace MAHER, 19. Tyla Jay VLAJNIC, 20. Keiwa HIEDA, 21. Hillary BEALL (gk), 22. Alana CERNE, 24. Julia SARDO
Ins: 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO (promoted), 13. Avaani PRAKASH
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 10. Kahli JOHNSON (injured), 17. Raquel DERALAS (injured), 34. Catherine ZIMMERMAN (injured)
Perth Glory Squad: 1.Morgan AQUINO (GK), 3.Jessika COWART, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Millie FARROW, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 11.Grace JALE, 12.Sofia SAKALIS, 13.Sarah CAIN, 14.Tia STONEHILL, 17.Abbey GREEN, 18.Sadie LAWRENCE, 19.Izzy FOLETTA, 20.Quinley QUEZADA, 22.Claudia MIHOCIC, 23.Isobel DALTON, 24.Sally JAMES (GK), 25.Grace JOHNSTON, 27.Georgia CASSIDY
Four to be omitted
Ins: 11.Grace JALE, 13.Sarah CAIN, 14.Tia STONEHILL, 19.Izzy FOLETTA
Outs: None
Unavailable:Â 16.Isabella WALLHEAD (injured), 28.Anika STAJCIC (injured)
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