The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 2 first team have earned a hard-fought away point during their 1-1 draw with Northern Tigers. Match Report brought to you by Multiquip.
The Round 14 clash at a freezing North Turramurra Recreation Area saw goals at either side of half-time as two Finals aspirants faced off.
Right from the opening whistle, it was a physical contest with both sides leaving their mark, Nectarios Triantis being shown a yellow card within five minutes for a crunching tackle.
In fact, Wanderers continued to stand up to their opponents, not taking a backward step in what is one of the league’s toughest away trips.
The home side enjoyed the majority of possession early, fashioning a couple of half-chances in the process.
Wanderers held firm however and were rewarded in the 35th minute when Ali Auglah pounced on a defensive mistake.
The crafty striker latched onto a misplaced back pass and made no mistake one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Heading into the sheds a goal up was a good result for the Red & Black in the face of some significant pressure but that defensive wall was broken two minutes after the re-start.
A neat team move from the home side ended via striker Shervin Keshavarz Adeli burying a cutback with a one-touch finish into the far corner.
Tempers occasionally spilled over as both sides gave everything in the search for a winner.
The Tigers pushed forward and enjoyed large swathes of possession in Western Sydney’s half but weren’t able to find a way through.
A well-earned point for the Red & Black who remain in second place.
They’ll return home to face Mounties Wanderers next Saturday as they look to get back in the winners’ circle.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Auglah 35’)
Northern Tigers 1 (Keshavarz Adeli 47’)
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 12. Nectarios TRIANTIS (8. Joel BERTOLISSIO), 4. Mohamed AL TAAY, 3. Philip CANCAR, 7. Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 23. Kosta GROZOS, 21. Isaac HOVAR, 22. Dean PELEKANOS (10. Reuben AWARITEFE), 19. Bilal CHAHINE (13. Aiden MOSTOFI), 14. Alessandro LOPANE, 1 9. Ali AUGLAH
Unused subs: 18. Oliver KALAC (GK), 5. Lochlan MACDONALD, 24. Peter GROZOS
