Sydney FC vs Western United 15/08/20

15 August 2020

Out-of-sorts table-toppers Sydney FC will be looking to return the favor to high-flying Western United for a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture when the two sides meet at Bankwest Stadium this weekend.

The hosts have gone from two consecutive A-League defeats to back-to-back draws, both of which saw the 1-1 half-time scoreline remain in force at full-time. By extension, six of Sydney’s last eight league fixtures have seen both teams score, although just three produced over 2.5 goals. Sydney’s dip in form has also affected their recent home results. Indeed, they’ve gone from eight successive top-flight home triumphs to win just once in four such matches (D1, L2). Growing goalscoring problems have seen the ‘Sky Blues’ net under 1.5 goals in three of those four outings, with three of the four goals they racked up in that period arriving beyond the 75-minute mark.

A 2-0 away win over Perth Glory during the midweek gave Western United a fifth win in their last six A-League games (L1). Notably, Mark Rudan’s men have netted an average of 4 goals across those victories, with four yielding a full-time margin of at least two goals. Away from home in the league, none of the visitors’ previous five matches has ended in a draw (W3, L2), with three of those results (wins/losses) seeing the winner on the day keep a blank sheet. Western United’s defensive woes have been often exposed in the first half, though, as 66.67% (8) of their 12 A-League goals conceded away from home so far came before the break.