The Western Sydney Wanderers’ Asian Champions League triumph largely came about due to the sheer dedication, hard work, and sacrifice made by players performing well above their perceived abilities on paper.
One of the better illustrations of players sacrificing themselves for the team would be the two goalscorers in the semi-final victory over South Korean giants FC Seoul: Mateo Poljak and Shannon Cole.
Ahead of the second leg at Parramatta Stadium, Poljak had been bed-ridden for much of the week after coming down with chickenpox, and Cole missed the first leg due to suspension and was also having to play after breaking his wrist in the quarter-final victory over Guangzhou Evergrande.
It wasn’t the only selection issues facing Tony Popovic ahead of the first leg in the Korean capital, with strikers Tomi Juric and Brendon Santalab also no chance of featuring, meaning a re-jigged attacking lineup had to be put out in the match against a side looking to make a second Champions League final in a row.
Seoul were ultimately defeated in 2013 on away goals rule, and were desperate to avenge that heartbreaking defeat, though their league form had been less than ideal.
They only finished fourth in the 2013 K League Classic and finished 23 points off the pace in the 2014 season, giving them all the more motivation to have success on the continent.
They didn’t have the same star power as the Wanderers’ quarter-final opponents, but still possessed a team many thought would be able to end Western Sydney’s giant killing run.
Led by former South Korea international Choi Yong-soo, they had several European and South American players in the side that complemented a strong home-grown core.
They had talented fullback Cha Du-Ri and Spanish attacker Sergio Escudero combine well down the right to cause problems for the Wanderers, and were able to call upon skillful attackers Mauricio Molina and Everton Santos off the bench in the first leg.
In a unique quirk of fate, Escudero is still playing football in the semi-pro ranks in Victoria, currently playing for North Geelong; Cha Du-Ri was also in the twilight of his career then, with his final international match for South Korea coming in the Asian Cup final a year later against the Socceroos, who won the trophy thanks to a 2-1 win.
Given the Wanderers were depleted, they adopted a resolute defensive approach that sought to shut out the home side, and they were able to manage that as something of a makeshift defence featuring Brendan Hamill and Daniel Mullen were able to keep a crucial clean sheet, though they couldn’t find a crucial away goal as the match finished 0-0.
The Wanderers, who had Cole and Santalab back for the return leg at home, felt invigorated by the draw and by their record at Parramatta, only losing once at the ground in the tournament to date, and they took quick control of the second leg.
The game was just three minutes old when Seoul goalkeeper Yu Sang-Hyun could only punch a corner to the edge of the box, and Poljak took full advantage as he leathered a first time effort into the roof of the net to send the 19,000 fans into raptures.
The early goal meant Parramatta was a cauldron of noise, helping power the Wanderers on as they held onto their lead at half-time.
The Wanderers knew they would have to hold off a strong response from Seoul, who knew they only had 45 minutes to save their Champions League campaign, and their coach introduced Kwang-Min Ko after the break as a burst of energy up front.
Their best chance of the match came just after the hour mark as Du-Ri’s goalbound effort was cleared by Hamill, and the Wanderers punished Seoul’s wastefulness with ruthless efficiency minutes later.
Labinot Haliti flighted an inviting cross towards the back post, where fullback Cole was ready and waiting to head it back across goal and into the bottom corner, sparking scenes of delirium at Wanderland.
Cole himself got taken away in the moment, momentarily forgetting about his broken wrist and attempting a frontflip celebration, before coming to his senses and aborting halfway through.
The wind was taken out of Seoul’s sails, and the Wanderers were able to see out a 2-0 victory that saw them become just the second ever Australian side to qualify for an Asian Champions League final.
Popovic was full of praise for his chargers after the match, singling out Poljak for his contributions after his illness.
Poljak would remain at the club until 2015, when he joined fellow A-League side Newcastle Jets, where he made 50 league appearances and scored three goals.
After a short stint in Romania, he returned to Sydney and played for several NPL NSW clubs, the last of those being Mt Druitt Town Rangers in 2020.
Cole would stay at the club until 2017, before playing at Sydney United and in the United States; he returned home during the COVID pandemic, and was most recently the head coach for Central Coast United in the FNSW League Two.
He remained a fan favourite, and was voted in the Wanderers’ 10-year anniversary team of the decade.
