2019–20 Western United FC season

The 2019–20 season is Western United FC's first season since its establishment in 2018. The club competed in the A-League for the first time though it did not compete in the FFA Cup.

Western United
2019–20 season
ChairmanJason Sourasis
ManagerMark Rudan
StadiumGMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Mars Stadium, Ballarat
VU Whitten Oval, Footscray,
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Carlton
A-League5th
Top goalscorerLeague: Besart Berisha (19 goals)
All: Besart Berisha (19 goals)
Highest home attendance10,128 vs Melbourne Victory
(8 December 2019)
Lowest home attendance2,973 vs Brisbane Roar
(16 February 2020)
Average home league attendance5,653

On 24 March 2020, the FFA announced that the 2019–20 A-League season would be postponed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and New Zealand.[1] The season eventually re-started in July and concluded in late August.[2]

Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  POL Filip Kurto
2 DF  AUS Aaron Calver
3 DF  AUS Brendan Hamill
4 DF  NZL Andrew Durante
5 DF  AUS Dylan Pierias
6 DF  JPN Tomoki Imai
7 FW  AUS Valentino Yuel
9 FW  AUS Apostolos Stamatelopoulos
10 MF  AUS Steven Lustica
11 FW  AUS Connor Pain
13 DF  AUS Ivan Vujica
14 MF  AUS Max Burgess
15 DF  AUS Jonathan Aspropotamitis
17 MF  AUS Joshua Cavallo
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 FW  KVX Besart Berisha
19 DF  AUS Josh Risdon
20 GK  AUS James Delianov
21 MF  AUS Sebastian Pasquali
22 DF  AUS Tomislav Uskok
23 MF  ITA Alessandro Diamanti (captain)
24 MF  AUS Thiel Iradukunda (scholarship)
25 MF  AUS Luke Duzel (scholarship)
26 FW  AUS Kwabena Appiah (injury replacement)
27 MF  AUS Jerry Skotadis
28 DF  AUS Oskar Dillon
30 GK  AUS Ryan Scott
— FW  AUS Patrick Antelmi
— MF  AUS Nicolas Milanovic (scholarship)

Transfers

Transfers in
No. Position Player Transferred from Type/fee Contract length Date Ref
8MF Panagiotis Kone Unattached Free transfer 2 years 1 February 2019 [3]
19DF Josh Risdon Western Sydney Wanderers Free transfer 2 years 12 February 2019 [4]
6MF Connor Chapman Unattached Free transfer 2 years 7 March 2019 [5]
2DF Aaron Calver Sydney FC Free transfer 1 year 12 March 2019 [6]
21MF Sebastian Pasquali Jong Ajax Free transfer 1 year 20 March 2019 [7]
5DF Dylan Pierias Melbourne City Free transfer 1 year 20 March 2019 [7]
9FW Apostolos Stamatelopoulos Adelaide United Free transfer 1 year 20 March 2019 [7]
7FW Valentino Yuel Bentleigh Greens Free transfer 1 year 25 March 2019 [8]
15DF Jonathan Aspropotamitis Central Coast Mariners Free transfer 1 year 15 April 2019 [9]
17MF Joshua Cavallo Melbourne City Free transfer 1 year 15 April 2019 [9]
11FW Connor Pain Central Coast Mariners Free transfer 1 year 15 April 2019 [9]
22DF Ersan Gülüm Whittlesea United Free transfer 7 May 2019 [10]
10FW Scott McDonald Unattached Free transfer 8 May 2019 [11]
20GK James Delianov Melbourne City Free transfer 2 years 9 May 2019 [12]
1GK Filip Kurto Wellington Phoenix Free transfer 2 years 14 May 2019 [13]
3DF Brendan Hamill Western Sydney Wanderers Free transfer 1 year 15 May 2019 [14]
14MF Max Burgess Wellington Phoenix Free transfer 2 years 27 May 2019 [15]
4DF Andrew Durante Wellington Phoenix Free transfer 1 year 11 June 2019 [16]
13DF Ivan Vujica Newcastle Jets Free transfer 23 June 2019 [17]
23MF Alessandro Diamanti Unattached Free transfer 24 July 2019 [18]
24MF Thiel Iradukunda Unattached Scholarship 1 year 2 September 2019 [19]
12MF Dario Jertec Unattached Free transfer 1 year 10 September 2019 [20]
25MF Luke Duzel Melbourne City Youth Scholarship 1 year[21] 24 September 2019 [22]
18FW Besart Berisha Unattached Free transfer 1 year 27 September 2019 [23]
27MF Jerry Skotadis Unattached Free transfer 1 year 5 October 2019 [24][25]
26FW Kwabena Appiah Unattached Injury replacement 14 October 2019 [26]
30GK Ryan Scott Bentleigh Greens Injury replacement 3 months 8 November 2019 [27]
28DF Oskar Dillon Gold Coast Knights Free transfer 6 months 2 January 2020 [28]
22DF Tomislav Uskok Sydney United Free transfer 1.5 years 23 January 2020 [29]
6DF Tomoki Imai Unattached Free transfer 0.5 year 11 February 2020 [30]
10MF Steven Lustica Qizilqum Zarafshon Free transfer 0.5 year 21 February 2020 [31]
TBDFW Patrick Antelmi Sydney United Free transfer 2 months 17 July 2020 [32]
TBDMF Nicolas Milanovic Western Sydney Wanderers Youth Scholarship 1 year 17 July 2020 [32]

Transfers out
No. Position Player Transferred to Type/fee Date Ref
6MF Connor Chapman Daejeon Citizen Undisclosed 29 December 2019 [33]
10FW Scott McDonald Brisbane Roar Free transfer 17 January 2020 [34]
22DF Ersan Gülüm Unattached Mutual contract termination 22 January 2020 [35]
12MF Dario Jertec Unattached Mutual contract termination 7 April 2020 [36]
8FW Panagiotis Kone Unattached Mutual contract termination 13 July 2020 [37]

Contract extensions
No.NamePositionDurationDateNotes
27Jerry SkotadisDefensive midfielder2 years24 January 2020[25]
30Ryan ScottGoalkeeper2 years25 June 2020[38]
10Steven LusticaCentral midfielder1 year29 June 2020[39]
23 Alessandro DiamantiAttacking midfielder2 years3 July 2020[40]
25Luke DuzelMidfielder1 year17 July 2020[21]

Club

Kits

The kit supplier is Kappa. At the start of the inaugural season, Probuild were announced as Western United's main kit sponsor, [41] with Hyundai sponsoring the sleeves.

Technical staff

Football Department

PositionName
Head Coach Mark Rudan[42]
Assistant Coach John Anastasiadis[43]
Assistant Coach John Hutchinson[44]
Director of Football Steve Horvat[45]
Goalkeeping Coach Frank Juric[46]

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals
As of 28 December 2019
No. Pos. Player A-League Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Filip Kurto 12 0 12 0
2 DF Aaron Calver 7+2 1 9 1
3 DF Brendan Hamill 3+2 0 5 0
4 DF Andrew Durante 12 1 12 1
5 DF Dylan Pierias 1+7 0 8 0
7 FW Valentino Yuel 0+3 0 3 0
8 MF Panagiotis Kone 10 2 10 2
9 FW Apostolos Stamatelopoulos 0+3 0 3 0
11 FW Connor Pain 12 1 12 1
12 MF Dario Jertec 11+1 0 12 0
13 DF Ivan Vujica 0 0 0 0
14 MF Max Burgess 1+9 0 10 0
15 DF Jonathan Aspropotamitis 0+3 0 3 0
17 MF Joshua Cavallo 0 0 0 0
18 FW Besart Berisha 10+1 6 11 6
19 DF Josh Risdon 9 0 9 0
20 GK James Delianov 0 0 0 0
21 MF Sebastian Pasquali 0 0 0 0
23 MF Alessandro Diamanti 12 2 12 2
24 MF Thiel Iradukunda† 0 0 0 0
25 MF Luke Duzel† 0 0 0 0
26 FW Kwabena Appiah 3+3 1 6 1
27 DF Jerry Skotadis† 4 0 4 0
28 DF Oskar Dillon 0 0 0 0
30 GK Ryan Scott 0 0 0 0
Players no longer at the club
6 MF Connor Chapman 8 0 8 0
10 FW Scott McDonald 8+1 1 9 1
22 DF Ersan Gülüm 9 0 9 0

† = Scholarship or NPL/Y-League-listed player

Pre-season

Friendlies
22 August 2019 Caroline Springs George Cross 0–4 Western UnitedMelbourne, Australia
19:00 AEST Report
Stadium: City Vista Pavilion and Sports Field
Attendance: 3,267
29 August 2019 Western United 5–0 Preston LionsMelbourne, Australia
19:00 AEST
Report Stadium: City Vista Pavilion and Sports Field
Attendance: 2,532
3 September 2019 Western United 2–0 North Geelong WarriorsMelbourne, Australia
19:00 AEST
Report Stadium: City Vista Pavilion and Sports Field
Attendance: 2,135
10 September 2019 Melbourne City 1–2 Western UnitedMelbourne, Australia
 Report
Stadium: City Football Academy
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
15 September 2019 Western United 0–6 Melbourne VictoryMelbourne, Australia
13:00 AEST Report
Stadium: City Vista Pavilion and Sports Field
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
21 September 2019 Western United 0–0 Adelaide UnitedBallarat, Australia
15:00 AEST Report Stadium: Morshead Park
27 September 2019 Western United 1–2 Sydney FCBallarat, Australia
15:00 AEST
Report
Stadium: Morshead Park
5 October 2019 Western United 1–1 Western Sydney WanderersGeelong, Australia
13:00 AEST
Report
Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro

Competitions

Overview
Competition Record
P W D L GF GA GD Win %
A-League 25 12 3 10 45 34 +11 048.00
Total 25 12 3 10 45 34 +11 048.00

Updated to match played 6 March 2020
Source: Competitions

A-League
Main article: 2019–20 A-League

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Sydney FC (Q) 26 16 5 5 49 25 +24 53 Qualification to Finals Series and 2021 AFC Champions League group stage[lower-alpha 1]
2 Melbourne City (Q) 25 13 5 7 46 36 +10 44 Qualification to Finals Series and 2021 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs[lower-alpha 1]
3 Wellington Phoenix[lower-alpha 2] (Q) 26 12 5 9 38 33 +5 41 Qualification to Finals Series[lower-alpha 1]
4 Brisbane Roar (Q) 26 11 7 8 29 28 +1 40
5 Western United (Q) 25 12 3 10 45 34 +11 39
6 Perth Glory (Q) 26 10 7 9 43 36 +7 37
7 Adelaide United 26 11 3 12 44 49 −5 36
8 Newcastle Jets 26 9 7 10 32 40 −8 34
9 Western Sydney Wanderers 26 9 6 11 35 40 −5 33
10 Melbourne Victory 26 6 5 15 33 44 −11 23
11 Central Coast Mariners 26 5 3 18 26 55 −29 18
Updated to match(es) played on 15 August 2020. Source: A-League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.
Notes:
  1. The top two teams enter the Finals series at the semi-finals, while the teams ranked third to sixth enter the Finals series at the elimination-finals.
  2. Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for the 2021 AFC Champions League as they are not recognised as an AFC club.

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
25 12 3 10 45 34  +11 39 5 1 6 25 21  +4 7 2 4 20 13  +7

Last updated: 28 December 2019.
Source: ultimatealeague.com

Result by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829
GroundAHHAHHAHHAAHABHHABHAHABAHAHAA
ResultWDLWWLLLWWDLL✖WLD✖LLWW✖WWWWL
Position33542455433455556778766–––––
Updated to match(es) played on 6 March 2020. Source: ultimatealeague.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

  Win   Draw   Loss

13 October 2019 1Wellington Phoenix0–1Western UnitedWellington
16:00 AEDT Report
Stadium: Westpac Stadium
Attendance: 8,254
Referee: Kurt Ams
19 October 2019 2Western United1–1Perth GloryGeelong
17:15 AEDT
Report
Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 6,888
Referee: Alireza Faghani
27 October 2019 3Western United1–2Melbourne CityGeelong
18:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 7,042
Referee: Adam Kersey
2 November 2019 4Melbourne Victory2–3Western UnitedMelbourne
19:30 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Marvel Stadium
Attendance: 20,865
Referee: Alireza Faghani
9 November 2019 5Western United2–1Western Sydney WanderersGeelong
19:30 AEDT
Report
Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 4,558
Referee: Alex King
16 November 2019 6Western United0–1Newcastle JetsGeelong
19:30 AEDT Report
Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 5,668
Referee: Alireza Faghani
24 November 2019 7Central Coast Mariners1–0Western UnitedGosford
16:00 AEDT Gallifuoco  49' Report Stadium: Central Coast Stadium
Attendance: 5,075
Referee: Alex King
1 December 2019 8Western United0–2Sydney FCGeelong
16:00 AEDT Report
Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 4,187
Referee: Stephen Lucas
8 December 2019 9Western United3–1Melbourne VictoryGeelong
16:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 10,128
Referee: Adam Kersey
13 December 2019 10Brisbane Roar0–2Western UnitedBrisbane
19:30 AEDT Report
Stadium: Suncorp Stadium
Attendance: 8,582
Referee: Chris Beath
20 December 2019 11Western Sydney Wanderers1–1Western UnitedSydney
19:30 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Bankwest Stadium
28 December 2019 12Western United1–3Wellington PhoenixBallarat
17:15 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Mars Stadium
Attendance: 5,084
Referee: Shaun Evans
3 January 2020 13Melbourne City3–2Western UnitedMelbourne
19:30 AEDT
Report
Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 8,577
Referee: Adam Kersey
19 January 2020 15Western United3–0Central Coast MarinersGeelong
16:00 AEDT
Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 6,020
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro
26 January 2020 16Western United3–4Adelaide UnitedFootscray
18:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: VU Whitten Oval
Attendance: 5,988
Referee: Kurt Ams
1 February 2020 17Newcastle Jets0–0Western UnitedNewcastle
17:00 AEDT Report Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium
Attendance: 5,458
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro
16 February 2020 19Western United0–1Brisbane RoarBallarat
16:00 AEDT Report
Stadium: Mars Stadium
Attendance: 2,973
Referee: Alireza Faghani
21 February 2020 20Wellington Phoenix2–0Western UnitedWellington
17:15 AEDT
Report Stadium: Westpac Stadium
Attendance: 7,281
Referee: Shaun Evans
1 March 2020 21Western United6–2Central Coast MarinersGeelong
16:00 AEDT
Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 3,629
Referee: Ben Abraham
7 March 2020 22Adelaide United1–5Western UnitedAdelaide
17:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 8,473
Referee: Stephen Lucas
25 July 2020 28Melbourne Victory1–2Western UnitedSydney
19:35 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Bankwest Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Alireza Faghani
2 August 2020 29Newcastle Jets1–0Western UnitedNewcastle
19:30 AEDT
Report Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium
Attendance: 2,570
Referee: Alex King
7 August 2020 25Western United5–3Western Sydney WanderersSydney
19:30 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Netstrata Jubilee Oval
Attendance: 0
Referee: Alireza Faghani
12 August 2020 24Perth Glory0–2Western UnitedSydney
17:35 AEDT Report
Stadium: Bankwest Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Chris Beath
15 August 2020 26Sydney FC1–2Western UnitedSydney
17:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
Attendance: 1,863
Referee: Alex King
19 August 2020 27Western UnitedvMelbourne CitySydney
19:30 AEDT Stadium: Netstrata Jubilee Oval
gollark: Anyway, upsides of client-rendering:- UI can be faster and more responsive, and allow stuff like "live" search that updates as you type and instant preview of markdown- can connect other stuff to same APIDownsides:- more code, it's somewhat annoying/problem-inducing to synchronize state correctly between server and client- more JS dependencies
gollark: They need precise 3-space coordinates.
gollark: I suppose I WILL need to find your address for orbital laser strike targeting.
gollark: I don't, actually.
gollark: No.

References
  1. https://www.ffa.com.au/news/ffa-postpone-remaining-matches-hyundai-a-league-season-covid-19
  2. "Football Federation Australia extends the postponement of the Hyundai A-League". Football Federation Australia. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  3. "The Western Melbourne Group have secured Greek international Panagiotis Kone as their first player signing". Fox Sports. 1 February 2019.
  4. "Risdon's second west signing". FTBL. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  5. Airs, Kevin (7 March 2019). "Chapman signs for Western United after bizarre K-League exit". FTBL. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  6. Warren, Adrian (12 March 2019). "Western United sign Sydney's Aaron Calver". ESPN. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  7. "Western United swoop for talented Aussie trio". The World Game. SBS. 20 March 2019.
  8. Lynch, Michael (25 March 2019). "Bentleigh speedster Yuel becomes Western United's first NPL signing". The Age.
  9. "United pick up trio of new signings". FTBL. 15 April 2019.
  10. McKay, Ben (7 May 2019). "Gulum saddles up with Western United". The Newcastle Herald.
  11. Lynch, Michael (8 May 2019). "Scott McDonald to play for Western United next season". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  12. Lynch, Michael (9 May 2019). "Galekovic retires, Delianov switches from City to Western United". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  13. "Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Filip Kurto joins A-League newcomers Western United". Stuff.co.nz. 14 May 2019.
  14. "Hamill swaps Wanderers for Western United in blow for Babbel". The World Game. SBS. 14 May 2019.
  15. Rollo, Phillip (16 May 2019). "Wellington Phoenix lose another key player to Mark Rudan's Western United". Stuff.co.nz.
  16. Rollo, Phillip (11 June 2019). "Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante follows Mark Rudan out the door". Stuff.co.nz.
  17. Lynch, Joey (23 June 2019). "Western United add Ivan Vujica to defensive stocks". Daily Football Show.
  18. "Western United seal Diamanti deal". FTBL. 24 July 2019.
  19. "Western United FC signs Thiel Iradukunda". Western United. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  20. "New boys Western United sign Croatian midfield veteran". The World Game. SBS. 10 September 2019.
  21. "Luke Duzel signs one-year extension with Western United". Western United. 17 July 2020.
  22. Ormond, Aidan (24 September 2019). "Signing news: Rising star from the West joins Western United". Western United. A-League.
  23. Lynch, Michael (27 September 2019). "Berisha opts for Western United in A-League return". The Age.
  24. Western United [@wufcofficial] (5 October 2019). "Our XI to take on the Wanderers" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. "Western United re-signs talented teenage midfielder for two more years". Western United. 24 January 2020.
  26. "Transfer news and rumours LIVE: Man Utd battle with AC Milan for Barca's Rakitic". Goal. 14 October 2019. New A-League club Western United have signed Australian attacker Kwabena Appiah as an injury replacement folllowing an injury to Valentino Yuel
  27. "Meet Western United's new keeper Ryan Scott". Western United. Football Federation Australia. 8 November 2019.
  28. Ormond, Aidan (2 January 2020). "Signing news: Western United adds young Aussie defender to roster". Western United. Football Federation Australia.
  29. Davutovic, David (23 January 2020). "Marco Rojas set to make A-League return against Sydney FC". Herald Sun. Western United has signed versatile Tomi Uskok on an 18-month contract.
  30. Lynch, Michael (11 February 2020). "Western sign Japanese defender Imai". The Age.
  31. "Western lure Lustica back to Oz". FTBL. 21 February 2020.
  32. "Milanovic and Antelmi join Western United ahead of A-League restart". Western United. 17 July 2020.
  33. "Western United FC confirm Chapman, Hutchinson departures". A-League. Football Federation Australia. 29 December 2019.
  34. Monteverde, Marco (17 January 2020). "A-League: Scott McDonald signs for Robbie Fowler's Brisbane Roar". The Australian.
  35. Lynch, Joey (22 January 2020). "Gülüm exits Western United ahead of young defender's expected arrival". FTBL.
  36. Lynch, Joey (7 April 2020). "Jertec jets out of Melbourne". FTBL. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  37. "Western United marquee Kone quits club". The World Game. SBS. 13 July 2020.
  38. "Western United signs Ryan Scott for two more years". Western United. 25 June 2020.
  39. "Western United re-signs Steven Lustica". Western United. 29 June 2020.
  40. "Western United re-signs captain Alessandro Diamanti". Western United. 3 July 2020.
  41. "Western United FC Announces Probuild Partnership". Western United. Football Federation Australia. 4 July 2019.
  42. "New A-League club Western United confirm Mark Rudan as inaugural coach". The Guardian. 23 May 2019.
  43. Gatt, Ray (12 January 2019). "Western Melbourne appoint John Anastasiadis as assistant". The Australian.
  44. Ormond, Aidan (22 January 2019). "New A-League club signs assistant coach from USA". FTBL.
  45. Rolfe, Peter (28 March 2019). "Push for sports clubs to own stadiums". Herald Sun. Western United football director and former Socceroo Steve Horvat said his club had delivered a blueprint for sports to skip government red tape and urged other codes to follow suit
  46. Migliaccio, Val (21 May 2019). "Former Adelaide United goalkeeper coach Frank Juric has denied allegations of abuse after the shootout loss to Perth Glory". The Advertiser.
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