The Western Sydney Wanderers youth side have fallen to a narrow 3-2 defeat against reigning champions Blacktown City on Friday night at Wanderers Football Park.
After a tight first half, the game exploded into life in the second with five goals, three penalties and two red cards, meaning fans got their money’s worth in this NPL NSW clash.
Chances were at a premium in the first 45 minutes, with Danny Choi forcing Jack Warshawsky into making a fine save, and Marcus Younis showing his trickery by beating his man and firing a shot at the near post that was well saved by Tristian Prendergast.
The Wanderers got the first penalty of the match in the 47th minute when Nathaniel Blair beat Prendergast to a loose ball; the Blacktown gloveman subsequently made contact and felled the striker in the box.
Blair was able to convert the penalty, getting his first goal for the club and his side the lead.
The Wanderers had further chances through Younis and Alex Badolato but were unable to take them, and they were to rue these misses when Blacktown scored two goals in quick succession
on the hour mark.
A Blacktown corner found Travis Major at the far post, and the winger’s shot just crossed the line despite desperate attempts to clear, and it was a similar story three minutes later when Daniel Collins’ slow moving shot just trickled over the line despite the best efforts of the Wanderers defence.
The momentum of the game swung again in the 66th minute, when a Badolato shot came off the arm of a City defender, causing the referee to point to the spot; Blacktown coach Mark Crittenden received a red card for dissent in the aftermath.
Blair stepped up once again and converted once again to level the game and set up a grandstand finish. The Wanderers’ cause was aided when Grant Lynch received a second yellow card for the visitors, reducing them to 10 men.
But it would be the away side who would land a sucker punch, when a chaotic sequence in the Wanderers box resulted in a handball by a defender; Major stepped up for the visitors and scored to put his side in front. The Wanderers pushed for an equaliser, but were thwarted by a dogged Blacktown defensive effort.
Andrew Christiansen’s side are on the road next week, as they travel to face fellow promoted side St George City.
