The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL side were able to secure a second clean sheet of the season in a scoreless draw against Blacktown City at Landen Stadium.
In a match that saw Blacktown reduced to 10 men just after the hour mark, both sides created plenty of chances to get the crucial go ahead goal, but lacked composure at the vital moments.
The Wanderers had the first chance of the match after just three minutes, when Alessandro Lopane’s free kick in a dangerous position was only narrowly off target.
Chances were few and far between for much of the first half, with the Wanderers defence holding firm but their attack lacking cutting edge in the final third.
Blacktown thought they had scored the opener from a corner in the 35th minute, but Lachlan Campbell was adjudged to have been offside.
The game opened up in the second half, with Alex Badolato going close in the 54th minute, before Blacktown had Ben Berry sent off eight minutes later for a second yellow card.
Emboldened by the man advantage, Western Sydney had two chances in quick succession, with Zac Sapsford’s effort from a bouncing cross going just wide of the goal, before Badolato was unable to convert after receiving a pass from Nathaneal Blair.
The game became a frantic end-to-end affair as both sides went long to chase the elusive goal.
Blair had a golden opportunity when he got his head to a Frans Deli cross, but the header skewed agonisingly wide of the target with less than 10 minutes to go.
Blacktown had one final opportunity when a deep free kick went into the box leading to a Grant Lynch header, but Lawrence Caruso was able to dive onto the ball and snuff out the opportunity.
Whilst there was frustration that the side couldn’t take all three points, there was much from that performance that coach Andrew Christiansen can take confidence from as they gear up for a home clash against St George City next week.
