The Wanderers have kept their finals hopes alive and running after a 2-0 victory over the Brisbane Roar with goals from Bernie Ibini and Bruce Kamau sealing the result.
After a brilliant attacking start for both teams with both sides looking like they really wanted to win this one, the Wanderers were denied early by good goal keeping from Roar’s veteran between the sticks Jamie Young.
Roar’s Japanese import Riku Danzaki linked up well early with young star Alex Parsons creating some good chances.
Soon the fast transitional play from the Wanderers started to catch the Roar out and it wasn’t long before the home side broke the deadlock with a tidy finish from Bernie Ibini after some great team play.
The Wanderers kept playing high tempo football and asserted their dominance and went into the break unlucky to be only ahead by one goal.
At the start of the second half, it looked like more of the same from both sides with some great attacking play from either side, an injury scare to Wanderers captain Dylan McGowan slowed the momentum of the home side down.
It wasn’t long before they found their attacking flow again, culminating with a disallowed goal from Ibini and a few clear cut chances minute later.
The Wanderers would continue to pile on the chances, but to the frustration of the fans and manager Robinson, they were unable to capitalise any but held off a late attacking flurry from the Roar including an open goal miss from Japanese star Riku Danzaki.
The Wanderers would quickly bounce back with a late goal from Bruce Kamau sealing all three points and a 2-0 victory.
PRESSURE IS OFF FOR NOW
A man under immense pressure this week was Wanderers boss Carl Robinson, but after a strong win for his side, the pressure is off him for another week as the race for the finals heats up and the Wanderers stay in the race.
IS UGARKOVIC THE KEY TO THE WANDERERS’ CONSISTENCY
The Western Sydney Wanderers have had one big problem this season, that’s consistency.
One man who is a new face to the Wanderers set up is Steve Ugarkovic, could he prove to be the key to consistency at Western Sydney?
One of the unsung heroes during his time at Newcastle Jets, Ugarkovic is a player who will do the dirty work in the middle of the park for his team, and has started settling in well to the Western Sydney line up, so far, they are looking the better for it.
REMEMBER THE NAME
This season of the A-League has been all about one thing, exciting young players.
While Brisbane’s young trio of Riku Danzaki, Kai Trewin and Alex Parsons may have gotten all the attention for fans before the match, one player who is making a real name for himself this season is Western Sydney Wanderers Thomas Aquilina.
The wing back put in another solid performance tonight.
Referee: Alireza Faghani
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Goals: 28′ 9. Ibini (WSW) 88′ 7. Kamau (WSW)
Western Sydney Wanderers:
30. Margush 39. Aqullina, 2. Gordon, 4. McGowan, 6. Mourdakoutas, 29. Wilmering (13. Russell ’45), 8. Ugarkovic, 17. Baccus (19. Mutch ’80), 18. Dorrans, 9. Ibini (14. Troisi ’80), 7. Kamau (77. McDonald ’90)
Unused Subs: 50. Kalac, 27. Müller, 33. Natta
Yellow Cards: 29. Wilmering
Red cards: None
Brisbane Roar FC:
21. Young, 2. Neville, 5. Aldred (27. Trewin ’31) 6. Gillesphey, 3. Brown (29. Courtney-Perkins ’90), 16. Brindell-South (15. Daley ’65) , 26. O’Shea, 25. Akbari, 11. Champness (37. Dehmie ’65), 10. Danzaki, 34. Parsons
Unused subs: 1. Freke, 23. Wenzel-Halls.
Red cards: None
Image supplied – Getty
