Kosta Barbarouses has high hopes for Western Sydney Wanderers after winning debut

A-League veteran Kosta Barbarouses has no regrets about his decision to leave Wellington Phoenix for Western Sydney Wanderers.

New Western Sydney signing Kosta Barbarouses says there are “promising signs” for the Wanderers after a successful start to their 2025-26 campaign.

Despite a limited preparation, the Wanderers were far too good for NPL Queensland outfit Peninsula Power in Tuesday night’s Australia Cup battle at AJ Kelly Park, winning 3-0 to progress to the competition’s round-of-16.

Veteran attacker Barbarouses scored in his Wanderers debut after joining the club in the off-season from Wellington Phoenix.

“I think we showed a lot of promise in our combinations,” said the 35-year-old New Zealand international after embarking on his stint with a fifth A-League club.

“At times, you could see how dangerous we can be, especially considering most of us have only been working together for a couple of weeks.

“There’s plenty of room for improvement, but there were really promising signs. I’m pretty pleased with the performance tonight.”

Through to the Round of 16 🤝#WSWpic.twitter.com/FwkPycJGeH

— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) July 22, 2025

Barbarouses was part of a new look Wanderers forward line alongside fellow off-season signing, ex-Central Coast Mariners striker Alou Kuol, following the departures of Nicolas Milanovic (Aberdeen, Scotland), Zac Sapsford (Dundee United) and Marcus Antonsson (IFK Varnamo, Sweden).

The Wanderers squad also includes Socceroos forward Brandon Borrello, who didn’t play in Tuesday night’s win, which also included a brace from Bulgarian international Bozhidar Kraev.

Spanish star Juan Mata, whose Wanderers contract expired at the end of last season, remains in Europe and is still deciding whether to accept Western Sydney’s offer of a new deal.

Originally published as Kosta Barbarouses has high hopes for Western Sydney Wanderers after winning debut