She scored the vital goal that put Sydney FC back in the Westfield W-League Grand Final and Veronica Latsko will be key if the defending Champions are to repeat that achievement.
Melbourne City are the only team that have ever successfully defended the Championship and the Sky Blues will be turning to the American hot shot to be the difference maker once again if the away side are to upset the odds.
Latsko showed her poacher’s instincts in the 14th-minute of the Semi Final against Melbourne Victory at Epping Stadium, netting the only goal of the game and her third of the Westfield W-League season to send Sydney to their seventh Grand Final.
With City’s star-studded side likely to control the flow of the 2019/20 season finale, it could take a solid-steel defensive showcase and one opportunity for Ante Juric’s outfit to claim the Championship for a fourth time.
Latsko has the skill and confidence to take the chance to crown Sydney FC as back-to-back Champions, and lift her first Westfield W-League silverware during her debut season in Sky Blue following a nightmare year to forget.
ANNOUNCED: Melbourne City FC to host Sydney FC in the Westfield W-League 2020 Grand Final
GRAND FINAL PREVIEW: Melbourne City v Sydney FC
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6122089770001
ROAD TO THE GRAND FINAL: Melbourne City
ROAD TO THE GRAND FINAL: Sydney FC
The comeback queen
2019 was far from straight forward for the Pennsylvania-native after starring for Adelaide United in her debut Westfield W-League campaign.
The University of Virginia graduate netted nine goals in 12 matches for the Reds in 2018/19 to announce herself Down Under, before heading back to the United States in February for the National Women’s Soccer League season.
But four games into the campaign, disaster struck. A training ground injury left the Houston Dash striker sidelined with an anterior crucial ligament tear to her left knee.
A challenging journey through rehab followed and, seven months later, Latsko was running out and making her long-awaited Sydney FC debut as a substitute in a 2-1 win against the Newcastle Jets in Round 5 back in December.
Since then, the 24-year-old has gone from strength-to-strength, scoring her first goal in Sky Blue during a 4-0 Round 8 win against Canberra United and netting her maiden Sydney Derby strike in a 3-0 win against crosstown rivals Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 12.
Latsko’s crowning moment arrived as she scored the goal that kept Sydney FC’s title-defence alive in the Semi Final and there is no doubt that City’s defensive stars will need to keep a close eye on the talented sharp-shooter come the Grand Final.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6132778956001
WATCH: How to watch Westfield W-League 2020 Grand Final
GRAND FINAL FEATURED PLAYER: Emily van Egmond – Melbourne City
Westfield W-League Grand Final
Melbourne City v Sydney FC
Date: Saturday 21 March 2020
Fixture: Melbourne City FC vs Sydney FC
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off Time: 3:30pm (AEDT)
TV Broadcast: FOX SPORTS 505 from 3:00pm (AEDT), ABC TV from 3:00pm (AEDT)
Stream: Kayo Sports and the My Football Live App
