Western Sydney Wanderers FC have charged their way into the Top 6 of the Isuzu UTE A-League after a comprehensive 4-0 victory against the Central Coast Mariners at Industree Group Stadium last night.
The Red & Black were 2-0 up after just 13 minutes and never looked back, securing their third win in their last four matches and moving into the Top Four of the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder.
Juan Mata was back on the bench for the Wanderers after an injury, but it was a young gun who stole the show early on. Zac Sapsford had an early chance after just two minutes when a deflected Nicolas Milanovic effort fell at his feet, but he couldn’t get enough power on the effort.
He would have his goal in the seventh minute after a mistake from the Central Coast goalkeeper. Adam Pavlesic, in his first league start for the club, missed a header after charging out of his goal, leaving Sapsford with a completely open goal to score into.
Whilst there was more than a hint of luck with the first goal, the Wanderers’ second was anything but, with an unlikely source putting the finishing touches on a brilliant team move. Jack Clisby won the ball high up the pitch, before making an excellent one-two with Sapsford, whose pass was a sublime back heel. Clisby charged into the box and placed a first-time effort beyond Pavlesic like a good striker, sending the away bay into delirium in the Central Coast sun.
After a phenomenal opening stanza from the Wanderers, the game settled and the Mariners began to have some chances of their own, with defender Anthony Pantazopoulos clearing an Alou Kuol shot off the line. Milanovic dragged an effort wide on the half hour mark, before Bozhidar Kraev had a penalty appeal waved away despite being clipped by Brian Kaltak in the box without the ball.
The Mariners then thought they had a goal back, but it was disallowed for a foul on Lawrence Thomas, and the Wanderers took full advantage just a minute later.
Dean Pelekanos, returning to the starting side in his natural position as a centre midfielder, had a shot on the edge of the area that took a nick off of Milanovic on the way through, helping it loop over Pavlesic and into the back of the net to give Western Sydney a three goal lead at the break.
The defending champions made a triple change at the break to try and stem the tide, but the Wanderers kept streaming forward; Gabriel Cleur almost scored a second screamer in a row, but his shot from range cannoned off the woodwork.
Milanovic and Brandon Borrello both missed good chances to add a fourth, but the Wanderers wouldn’t be denied for long. Marcus Antonsson, a second half substitute for Sapsford, burst in behind the backline and won a penalty after being fouled by Pavlesic.
The Swedish striker stepped up to take the spot kick, but his initial effort was saved. However, both ‘keeper and defenders had encroached before the kick, meaning Antonsson earned a reprieve. It was one he would not waste, as he calmly slotted his second attempt to give the Wanderers a four-goal buffer. With the game secure, Mata was able to make his return with a 15-minute cameo out on the right, whilst Antonsson almost had a second but was unable to get on the end of Cleur’s dangerous delivery.
It ended up being the perfect day for the Wanderers, earning their biggest win of the season so far and an important clean sheet. The Red & Black will now turn their attention to their next fixture on Sunday night when they face Perth Glory at CommBank Stadium. Tickets for this match are available via Ticketek.
