- Kingborough have dominated their 18-head-to-head H2H record against Taroona since 2017 (W11, L7, 62:31).
- Kingborough (4th, 14pts from 9) vs (7th, 9pts from 10).
Lions should tame Taroona
Kingborough Lions (W) are fancied to return to winning ways when they host a Taroona (W) side on the ascendency in the Tasmania Super League Women (WSL) on Sunday. The Lions have won 11 of their 18 meetings with Taroona in all competitions since 2017 and outscored them by 62-31 in that time. The hosts also come into the game on the back of their Lakoseljac Cup success and with a better league record than the visitors.
Jon Fenech has done an outstanding job in building Kingborough's identity as a team to be feared in Tasmania this season. They play a structured, possession-based game and are a disciplined, high-press side that can control the midfield and cause damage from set pieces. Cara Lashmar leads their attack with seasoned nous and there's plenty of power and pace behind her with the likes of Tilly Wills to give her support in the final third.
Jason Hay's Taroona are a direct, attack-minded team that play a transition-heavy style of football, with youth development at their heart. They create danger with vertical attacks and wide runners, but they can leave themselves vulnerable at the back when they push forward. Captain Madi James is an anchoring midfielder that controls the game for her team and is supported by the reliable shot-stopper Isolina Ottavi, who can keep Taroona in any game.
Taroona’s May goal spree not a fluke
Taroona's recent resurgence has been built on the contributions of a young, talented and attacking core group of players that have led the way in the team's multiple multi-goal wins in May. Kingborough have been less reliable in the league of late, with one win, one draw and three losses in their last five.
A Kingborough win this weekend would consolidate their top-half aspirations and keep them within touching distance of the league leaders, while Taroona need the points to climb out of the bottom half and show that their May form was no fluke. The matchup should provide a fascinating contrast of styles with Kingborough's structure against Taroona's risk-taking, but the odds are heavily against the away team for this clash, with the overs market a huge 1.18.
Kingborough are strong fancied favourites and rightfully so, but the Lions have not been at their best lately and will need keeper Kiera Kingston or Josie Rose to keep them in the match if they are to edge out a close encounter. Taroona have won four of their last five and won't lack confidence for this game, so an upset or a draw can't be ruled out.
Cool, partly sunny conditions on Sunday should suit the more structured side and make set-piece play more important, which should favour the home side. Kingborough should win this one at home, where their confidence and cup success should see them to victory, but Taroona could nick it in a tactical chess match between the two coaches.