A sensational hat-trick from Sienna Saveska has helped lead our Wander Women to a 5-1 home victory over Western United.
On a warm afternoon, the teenage superstar brought the heat as she scored three goals in 17 first-half minutes to stun the visitors and lift the Wanderers to their first victory of the season.
With the side at the wrong end of the table and enduring a goal drought, they were looking for a big start in front of a big crowd on a doubleheader weekend at CommBank Stadium, and they got exactly that, putting the away side under pressure from the off and opening the scoring after just nine minutes.
It was Saveska who whipped in the corner with her trusty left boot, and the United defence couldn’t deal with it as it bounced all the way in, giving Saveska an olimpico goal!
It gave the Red and Black momentum and they asserted their dominance on the match, having a good chance from Sophie Harding blocked.
They wouldn’t have to wait long for a second, coming after a great bit of interplay down the right.
Harding released Cushla Rue down the right, and the winger had time and space to put a teasing ball into the box.
Saveska was on hand to expertly side foot the ball home beyond Chloe Lincoln and double the Wanderers’ advantage.
The young midfielder completed a phenomenal hat-trick in the 27th minute with her best goal of the afternoon; the United defence stood off her after she received a pass from Talia Younis, and she made them pay by smashing a brilliant curling shot into the top corner.
It was just the second ever hat-trick in the club’s history, with the first being achieved back in 2019 by Kristen Hamilton.
The Wanderers were flying, and others soon got in on the scoring act.
Cushla Rue scored her first ever A-League Women’s goal against Western United last season, and she repeated the trick in the 38th minute as she found space between defenders to get on the end of a fantastic Amy Harrison long ball.
She withstood the attention of a defender and the onrushing Lincoln to slot the ball into the bottom corner and put the Wanderers four to the good.
Younis and Ena Harada had half chances to add to the already extraordinary scoreline, but they were unable to convert.
The Wanderers had a golden opportunity to get a fifth just after the break as Rue’s pace was too much for Sascha Grove to handle, with the United defender bringing down the winger in the box, leading to a penalty.
Unfortunately, Harrison was unable to convert as she sent the penalty just wide of the post.
Western United then got a goal back with a penalty of their own, as a cross deflected off the arm of Ella Buchanan, and the referee deeming it to be a handball offence; Chloe Logarzo stepped up and converted the spot kick.
Harrison almost made amends for her penalty miss as she forced Lincoln into a good save from a free kick, whilst Younis sent a header just wide.
The Wanderers would eventually get goal number five, and it would be a special moment for a long serving Wanderer.
Danika Matos had never scored in her 73 games at the club, but she broke her long drought in the 82nd minute; Harrison’s long ball wasn’t dealt with by the defence, and Matos’ perseverance allowed her to get a chance on goal, which she converted.
It was arguably the most special moment of a five star afternoon, as her teammates engulfed her in celebration.
It’s a massive win for the club as it moves them up the table; they will look to build from the victory when they host the Perth Glory on Friday night.
