Western Sydney Wanderers are ready to roll in Champions League final
The Wanderers will have Australia behind them as they face Al-Hilal for the second time in the final leg of the Asian Champions League final.
West
Don't miss out on the headlines from West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Western Sydney Wanderers will play the biggest match in their short history on Sunday morning when they take on Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in the final leg of the AFC Champions League final.
It is the final stage of an incredible journey that has seen the Wanderers defeat 2013 Champions Guangzhou Evergrande, 2013 runners-up FC Seoul and 2012 winners Ulsan Hyundai along the way.
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic said that their experiences so far will hold them in good stead for the final match of the tournament.
“You’d expect them to go into the game with confidence,” Popovic said.
“Every little bit helps, especially the experiences we had in Dubai and Guangzhou,” coach Popovic said.
“I don’t believe fatigue is an issue, I believe all they have is excitement, they’re in an ACL final and have a chance to be crowned champions of Asia.”
RELATED: Bridge says Wanderers total focus now is on Asian Champions League final
RELATED: Western Sydney Wanderers celebrate Asian Champions League grand final berth
The Wanderers are the second Australian team to make the final, after Adelaide United lost to Gamba Osaka in 2008, and are the first Australian team to make the final on their first attempt.
“(Al-Hilal) are a very good team and they deserve to be in the final, but I still think we deserve to win it,” defender Antony Golec said.
“With what the club has achieved the fans deserve this final. It would be a great achievement to sum up the three years this club has been around. We know it’s going to be tough but we are prepared to do the work.”
The final kicks off at 4.30am and fans can attend a live screening at Centenary Square, Church St, Parramatta.
“They played very well last game, we didn’t and we won so that’s the key for us,” Popovic said.
“We can do a lot better in possession and if we do that we give ourselves a great chance of winning this cup.”
Fans will sing for the Western Sydney Wanderers in the early hours of the morning on Sunday at a live site and watch the game on a 4.8 by 2.4 metre outdoor screen.
Parramatta City Council decided to partner with the Western Sydney Wanderers and FOX SPORTS to host the live site for the ACL Final for the first time in Parramatta.
The winner of the Champions League Final will travel to Morocco for the FIFA Club World Cup to take on the likes of Spain’s Real Madrid.
WATCH IT LIVE WITH FANS
Live screening of Wanderers vs. Al Hilal
From 3.30am on Sunday 2 November at
Centenary Square, Church Street, Parramatta.
Free entry
Covid causes havoc, heartbreak in junior sport
One of the biggest netball events in Australia and a rugby match featuring rising stars have fallen victim to the Sydney Covid outbreak - affecting more than 2000 kids.
Old rivalry adds spice to Swifts first home game
It’s one of netball’s longest and fiercest rivalries and it will form the backstory to the NSW Swift’s first Super Netball home game in more than a year. FULL DRAW REVEALED.