The Western Sydney Wanderers returned to the winners’ circle on Sunday afternoon, claiming a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Manly United at Cromer Park to strengthen their position in the race for finals football.
In a match where chances were limited for long periods, patience proved key for the Wanderers, who struck twice in the space of three minutes before withstanding a late Manly fightback to secure all three points.
The opening half was an evenly contested affair, with both sides organised defensively and finding it difficult to create clear-cut opportunities.
Talia Younis tested the hosts from distance on a pair of occasions, while Savannah Murray looked to release MiriamZumaya down the left as the Wanderers searched for a breakthrough.
At the opposite end, Aimee Hall was called into action midway through the half, producing an excellent save to keep Manly off the scoresheet before Alvina Khoshaba made a crucial defensive intervention to deny another dangerous attack.
The Wanderers nearly found the opener just before the break when Khoshaba delivered an inviting cross into thearea, but nobody could apply the finishing touch as the sides went into half-time locked at 0-0.
The visitors continued to grow into the contest after the restart. Nikkita Fazzari sparked an attack with a clever turn through midfield, while Annabella Keep combined well with Milly Bennett as the Wanderers looked to exploit the space behind Manly’s defence.
Their persistence was finally rewarded in the 70th minute.
Khoshaba once again provided the quality from a wide area, picking out Allyssa Ng Saad, who guided her finish home to give the Wanderers a deserved lead.
The advantage doubled just three minutes later after relentless pressure from Ng Saad forced an error from the Manly goalkeeper. The loose ball fell kindly for Talia Younis, who calmly finished into an empty net to put the Wanderers in control.
Younis almost added a third moments later after producing a superb turn before squaring the ball for Fazzari, whoseeffort was well saved. Manly refused to go away, pulling a goal back from a corner through Sienna Dale to set up a tense finish.
The final stages required a disciplined defensive effort from the Wanderers, who absorbed late pressure and protected their one-goal advantage to see out an important victory.
