While other A-League clubs begin playing each other in late August and September pre-season games, Western Sydney Wanderers are headed to Asia for three warm up matches. Yes, the Wanderers did already play Wellington Phoenix in pre-season, but the 2012/13 premiership holders are laying the ground work for their inaugural Asian Champions League campaign, which will begin in February.
Asian tour ahead for Western Sydney
Wanderers will continue to build toward the A-League season and begin preliminary Champions League preparations with three games in Japan and China.
The Asian excursion, which has been named WanderTour 2013, includes three stops: Shizuoka, Guangzhou and Tokyo and will feature a match in each city. Shinji Ono’s former club, Shimizu S-Pulse of the J-League, will be the first opponent, followed by a flight to China and a match against the Chinese Super League’s Guangzhou R&F. The trip will conclude back in Japan against J-League 2 side Tokyo Verdy.
Sydney FC previously played a friendly in Japan, falling 2-1 to J-League side Sagan Tosu in July.
According to a Wanderers press release, the tour details are:
Monday September 2: Depart for Japan
Wednesday September 4: Shimizu S-Pulse v Western Sydney
Sunday September 8: Guangzhou R&F v Western Sydney
Thursday September 12: Tokyo Verdy v Western Sydney
Saturday September 14: Return to Australia
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