Two wonder individual strikes from Keanu Baccus and Alex Meier have inspired the Wanderers to 2-1 over Melbourne Victory at Marvel Stadium tonight.
With the scores locked at 0-0 at half time, Baccus produced a special piece of magic to open the scoring in the 54th minute, lashing home a first time shot from about 25 metres to give the Wanderers the lead.
Marquee striker Meier, who has only been in the country for a month and was playing just his second game in the Hyundai A-League, added a second eight minutes later as the Red & Black silenced the home crowd to go two up.
The German’s debut goal for the Wanderers will be long remembered. He showed all the class of a player who has played in the top league in the Bundesliga, taking advantage of a defensive mistake to put the ball into the back of the net with a first-time effort from close to 25 metres out.
Victory pulled a goal back via a Ola Toivonen penalty on 71 minutes, ensuring a hectic finish to the game.
But, the Wanderers showed great character to hold firm and record their second win from the opening two games of the season. It’s the first time the club has won their opening two games of the season and sets up another blockbuster derby against Sydney FC on Saturday week
WANDERERS SURVIVE EARLY PRESSURE
Not surprisingly, the home side started strong and had the Wanderers under pressure for the opening 10 minutes.
Goalkeeper Daniel Lopar was called into action just two minutes into the game, tipping a Kamsoba effort over the bar. He then denied Nabbout, turning his effort around the post.
But, the Wanderers settled down and started to put their own mark on the game. Alex Meier showed what he is capable of, firing a thundering long-range effort into the net off the crossbar but, unfortunately, the referee had already blown up for a foul in the Wanderers favour.
Daniel Georgievski, playing in a back four formation, was having a very influential game, showing his vast experience.
Georgievski produced some lovely work on the right, turning the defender twice before delivering a lovely cross to the far post for Matt Jurman, whose header came off the base of the right post.
Wanderers midfielder Nick Sullivan came up with a shot that went straight to the keeper before he went into the referee’s book after foul on Leigh Broxham.
MEIER GET BEST CHANCE OF THE FIRST HALF
Victory almost caught out the Wanderers on 32 minutes when Kambosa found himself free on the left but Lopar again produced a quality save to deny him.
The best chance of the game came just on half time when that man Georgievski delivered a another pin-point cross to the far post where Meier was free. But, the German put his header wide.
The two sides went into the break all square.
