In the words of head coach Ante Juric, Sydney FC have “led the way in the A-League for a number of years”. Now, the Liberty A-League champions want to do it at international level.
Sydney are out to conquer Asia as they prepare to kick off their AFC Women’s Club Championship in Uzbekistan, where the Sky Blues face Bam Khatoon FC in their opening match on November 6.
Juric’s Sydney are one of eight participants who have been invited to compete at the tournament which is taking place in two centralised venues in Uzbekistan and Thailand between November 6 and November 12.
Games are expected to be streamed on the Uzbekistan Football Association YouTube Channel.
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It’s the biggest version yet of the tournament, which will give way to the AFC Women’s Champions League from next season.
The Sky Blues, who have taken a 21-player squad to Uzbekistan, will be without injured Matildas star Cortnee Vine and Young Matildas forward Sienna Saveska.
“It’s exciting for the club and this team to be playing in the club championship and I’m sure many of our players will enjoy this experience of playing in a different country against the best Asian club teams,” Juric said.
“This is a fantastic and unique opportunity for us to be able to test ourselves against the best in Asia.
“Ultimately, we are aiming to win the championship, as it would be a cherry on top of all the recent successes we have had within Australia. Although we know it will be a tough task and that we will need to be at our best.
“We have led the way in the A-League for a number of years now, and we want to do that internationally. I believe we have the squad to do just that.”
As a result of the Matildas’ FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final finish, the Sky Blues earned the second seed and joined Japanese outfit Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies in Pot 1.
Sydney – who qualified due to winning the 2022-23 Liberty A-League Championship – are the second A-Leagues side to compete in this tournament, after Melbourne Victory took part in the inaugural 2019 iteration – where they finished bottom with two losses and one draw.
A one-round league format will mean the four sides play against each other once in their respective two groups.
The winners of each group advance to a final to determine the best women’s side in Asia – which will take place in May 2024 with the venue to be confirmed.
Sydney have been drawn into Group B for the upcoming 2023 AFC Women’s Club Championship.
The Sky Blues were drawn alongside Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC (South Korea), FC Nasaf (Uzbekistan) and Bam Khatoon (Iran) – all reigning champions from their respective countries.
Sydney FC AFC Women’s Club Championship Squad and Staff
1 Jada Whyman
2 Margaux Chauvet
3 Charlotte McLean
4 Tori Tumeth
5 Kirsty Fenton
6 Lucy Johnson
7 Teigan Collister
9 Shea Connors
13 Aideen Keane
14 Abbey Lemon
17 Jynaya Dos Santos
18 Taylor Ray
19 Zara Kruger
20 Princess Ibini
21 Shay Hollman
22 Indiana Dos Santos
23 Fiona Worts
24 Caley Tallon-Henniker
25 Jessica Seaman
30 Tahlia Franco
40 Jasmine Black
Sydney FC’s AFC Women’s Club Championship fixtures
Sydney FC v Bam Khatoon FC
Date: November 6, 2023
Kick-off: 7.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Markaziy Stadium, Qarshi
FC Nasaf v Sydney FC
Date: November 9, 2023
Kick-off: 7.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Markaziy Stadium, Qarshi
Sydney FC v Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels
Date: November 12, 2023
Kick-off: 7.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Markaziy Stadium, Qarshi
Sydney FC’s Group B opponents
The Sky Blues kick-off their tournament against Iranian side Bam Khatoon – the most successful team in the Iranian Women Football League, having won nine championships.
FC Nasaf are the host club and they qualified for the Club Championship thanks to their Uzbekistan Women’s football league triumph.
Sydney’s group stage concludes against Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels. They are South Korea’s most successful team with 10 successive WK League trophies from 2013 to 2022.
