The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have gone down to Melbourne Victory 3-0 in their final pre-season match against Hyundai A-League opposition.
The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have gone down to Melbourne Victory 3-0 in their final pre-season match against Hyundai A-League opposition.
Played at Kingston Twin Ovals in Tasmania, the score line was flattering towards the hosts with a first minute goal and an unfortunate own goal contributing to a result that was not representative of the performance.
Mitch Nichols opened the scoring for Victory in under twenty seconds when he got on the end of an attempted Wanderers clearance to poke the ball into the net.
The match turned into an even contest with limited chances for either side until Kosta Barbarouses made it 2-0 midway through the half.
Not worried by the early setbacks the Wanderers finished the half as the stronger team with Victory goalkeeper Nathan Coe forced into a number of saves.
The introduction of Aaron Mooy was key early in the second stanza as the attacking midfielder turned the match Wanderers way.
With the red and black dominating it looked to be only a matter of time before the margin was halved and when Ono came close with a run and shot Victory were looking shaky.
Unfortunately for Tony Popovic-s charges the comeback wasn-t to be as an unfortunate own goal against the run of play put Victory three goals ahead.
Even with the contest seemingly over, the Wanderers continued to put Melbourne on the back foot with only some last ditch defending and a matter of millimetres keeping the ball out of the Victory net time and again.
Mooy came closest late in the match with a free kick that floated agonisingly wide.
The Wanderers complete their preparation for the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season next week when they take on Bankstown City Lions at Jensen Park, Bankstown. Tickets are available at the gate.
Melbourne Victory 3 (Nichols 1- Barbarouses 27- Covic (OG) 76-)
Western Sydney Wanderers 0
29 September, 2013
Kingston Twin Ovals
NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers Starting line-up: 1. Ante Covic (GK), 3. Adam D-Appuzo, 4. Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 5. Michael Beachamp (C), 6. Jerome Polenz (2. Shannon Cole 84-), 8. Mateo Poljak (10. Aaron Mooy 53-), 9. Tomi Juric (7. Labinot Haliti 56-), 17. Youssouf Hersi, 18. Iacopo La Rocca (23. Jason Trifiro 72-), 19. Mark Bridge (24. Alusine Fofanah 84-), 21. Shinji Ono (13. Jake McGing 81-)
