A-League Women Rd 8 - Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers FC

Erin Healy celebrates after scoring her teams first goal during the Round Eight A-League Women match between Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers at Coopers Stadium in the 2024/25 season. Photo: Mark Brake/Getty Images. Supplied by Adelaide United.

The elimination final between Adelaide and Western United marks only the second finals appearance for Adelaide, and third for Western United.

Having finished third on the table, Adelaide won the rights to host the game, which will be at Coopers Stadium on the 27th of April, kicking off at 4pm AEST.

The previous meetings between the two this season ended in a 1-1 draw in Round 13, and a 3-1 win to Adelaide in the second last week of the regular season.

This preview will tell you everything you need to know about the do-or-die clash from key players, to how each team may be able to secure their pathway into the semi-finals.

Claudia Jenkins makes a save from Sheridan Gallagher during the Round Five A-League Women match between Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets at ServiceFM Stadium. Photo: Maya Thompson/Getty Images. Supplied by Adelaide United.

Key Players

Claudia Jenkins

Adelaide’s starting keeper Claudia Jenkins has had a terrific season for the Reds, so much so that she was awarded a call up to the New Zealand National team during the season. Jenkins has missed only one game throughout the season, pulling out of the club’s Pride Round fixture against Melbourne Victory with injury.

Having kept seven clean sheets and made 81 saves across the regular season, Jenkins is a force to be reckoned with between the sticks and will be a key figure in Adelaide’s game.

Lucía León

Dominican Republic international Lucía León has been tearing up the A-League Women in her first season with Adelaide United.

Leon’s presence on the right side of the pitch sees her full of running as a wing-back type player. This has allowed her to become a consistent figure in Adelaide’s defence while also pushing forward in attacking play. Leon has picked up three assists and scored five goals this season.

Fiona Worts

Fiona Worts has exploded back onto the scene this season, following her return to Adelaide United after a short stint at Sydney FC.

This season, Worts has scored 11 goals, the most in the Adelaide squad this season, which sees her return to her best and mirror her Julie Dolan Medal winning season in 21/22.

Her consistency in front of goal has made her a real threat to any sort of opposition, and this season alone she’s scored against more than half of the teams available to her.

Chloe Berryhill (née Logarzo)

Western United captain and Matilda-fringe player Chloe Berryhill has been a key figure in Kat Smith’s side since she signed on three seasons ago.

Berryhill’s tenacity as a player makes her the kind of captain any player wants to succeed for. A talismanic presence on the pitch can make all the difference for a team, especially one that has had troubles with consistency. Berryhill has just managed to scrape through into the squad after exiting Western’s final game of the regular season at half-time due to a cork.

Grace Maher

Having made the switch from one green United team to the other two seasons ago, Grace Maher has been a regular feature of Western United.

Having played the second-most minutes in the squad this season, only 31 minutes less than Sasha Grove, Maher has been crucial in the midfield on the defensive side for Western. Her calm presence in the midfield allows her to make key interceptions of opponents attacking passes and set up her own team’s attacking options.

How Adelaide win

The only thing Adelaide need to do to win, is exactly what they have been doing all season long. Now is not the time to change anything, not positions, game plans, or even personal superstitions. They have been able to find success throughout the season and have constantly proved that they are a serious contender for the Championship even right back at the start when they were missing key players due to injury. As long as they stick to their guns, there is no doubt that this team could go all the way.

How Western United win

Given their consistently inconsistent form, Western United are going to have to forget about throwing everything and the kitchen sink at this game and start thinking about throwing the whole house at it.

If they want to go through to the Semi Finals they are going to have to find a way to keep Adelaide’s prolific scoring quiet, which closing out Fiona Worts, Erin Healy, and Chelsea Dawber.

Even if they manage that, they still have to work out a way around Adelaide’s formidable back-line, that’s only been scored on 30 times this season.

Prediction

This game looks like an almost certain win for the home side in Adelaide United. Following an extremely successful regular season, the Reds are highly likely to defeat Western United by at least two goals.

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