A defiant Western Sydney Wanderers have gone down 1–0 to APIA Leichhardt at Wanderers Football Park on Saturday in what was a tight affair between the two sides.
The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 1 side were defeated 1-0 at Wanderers Park following a courageous performance at home, an unfortunate own goal by Leon Alizart proved to be the difference in what was a tight affair that could’ve gone either way.
The early proceedings were dominated by APIA, where they maintained possession and early strikes by Jack Stewart and Joel Bertolissio failed to trouble Lucas Sinnott. Their best chance came in the 41st minute through Stewart where Sinnott was forced into a flying save to deny the APIA attacker.
The consequential corner resulted in the game’s deciding moment, as Alizart’s attempted header unfortunately found its way into the back of his own net.
Stewart could have doubled APIA’s lead right before half time, although Sinnott denied the Leichhardt side their second following the scramble at the back.
Half time couldn’t come quicker for the home side as they looked to regroup following the opener, and following the break they looked to restore stability, although their attempts were stopped on the transition.
Their best chance came late in the half, as Barrie found Edmun Haddad with a lobbed ball over the top. Haddad looked to bring the ball down, unfortunately for the Wanderers, his strike hit the side netting.
Hollingdale had the chance to square the game in added time but his strike following the corner was blocked off the line to conclude what was a closer than expected game from two sides fighting battles on either end of the table.
The Marconi Stallions visit Wanderers Football Park on Saturday as the Wanderers search for a win as relegation could become a real possibility if results remain the same.
