The young stars of the Western Sydney Wanderers shone, as they led their side to a 4-0 victory against Lions FC in the Australia Cup Round of 16.
The Wanderers held a slender lead at the break thanks to a wonderful Nicolas Milanovic strike, before goals from Zac Sapsford, Marcus Antonsson and Marcus Younis sealed a comfortable victory in the sunshine state.
There were two starting debuts for Jesse Cameron and goalkeeper Tristan Vidackovic, whilst Sapsford and Oscar Priestman were also handed starts by Alen Stajcic.
It took a little while for the boys to get going, as the Lions pressed hard and were full of energy in the opening stages at Luxury Paints Stadium, but they soon grew into the game.
Brandon Borrello was involved in the action early as he teed up Alex Badolato before having an effort on goal himself, but on both occasions the Lions defence and goalkeeper Cardiff Pond were able to thwart the danger.
Milanovic tried to curl one in from distance, but couldn’t get enough bend on the shot, though he wouldn’t be denied in the 23rd minute.
He picked up the ball deep in midfield, driving forward as the defence stood off him, and he made them pay as he thundered an effort into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Pond.
Towards the end of the half the home side had a couple of chances on goal, requiring an important block from Alex Bonetig and smart save from Vidackovic at his near post.
After the break, Andy Pengelly had the best chance for Lions as he tried to dink the ball over the towering Vidackovic, but the debutant stood tall and denied him.
It would prove to be an important moment as minutes later the Wanderers would double their advantage.
Preistman picked up the ball in midfield and floated a lovely pass to Sapsford, who had got between the two central defenders.
With the keeper rushing out, Sapsford nonchalantly chipped the ball over Pond to score his first goal of the new campaign.
Borrello then should have scored after Milanovic did wonderfully down the left, but his effort veered wide of the near post.
Milanovic and Younis had further chances to increase their lead but the shooting touch deserted them, and there was a feeling they may regret the misses.
Any worries went away with just over 10 minutes to go as Jack Clisby had acres of space down the left, and with time and space he picked out substitute Marcus Antonnson, whose neat first time finish found the back of the net.
Vidackovic made another strong save at point blank range to keep his clean sheet intact, and it would be another young gun who would put the exclamation mark on an excellent second half performance.
It was young substitutes combining as Aidan Simmons – who had only just come onto the pitch, curled a brilliant ball into the path of Younis, whose speed and power was too much for the defence to handle as he showed composure to lash the ball into the top corner of Pond’s goal.
After a clunky attacking performance in the Round of 32, Stajcic will be pleased his team were clicking more going forward into the second half, and will hope his side can continue the momentum heading into their quarter-final clash against Adelaide United.
