Anthony Pantazopoulos is quickly making a name for himself as one of the brightest young talents in the Isuzu UTE A-League, and his latest performance for the Western Sydney Wanderers confirmed why head coach Alen Stajcic has high hopes for the 22-year-old.
Against Macarthur Bulls on Saturday night, Pantazopoulos once again showed his knack for finding the net, equalising for the Wanderers in a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Campbelltown.
It marked the third time the versatile defender has scored against Macarthur in his burgeoning A-League career, a remarkable record for a player still early in his professional journey.
“We had a running joke. He’s scored three goals against Macarthur. He probably wants to play the Bulls every week,” said Wanderers head coach Alen Stajcic.
While the team is still chasing its first win of the season, Pantazopoulos’ performance was a silver lining.
Stajcic highlighted how the defender turned around a slow start to deliver an inspiring display that underscored both his talent and potential.
“It was a massive learning curve for him as an individual. He probably didn’t start very well. I thought he was pretty average the first half an hour,” said Stajcic.
“But to see him lift his game from that point, to go from an average performance to becoming the most important player on the field, regardless of the goal, was incredible.
“He was awesome in that last half-hour – the way he delivered crosses, carried the ball forward, threatened the opposition, put in key tackles, and contributed on set-pieces. He was instrumental in securing the point and he could have been pivotal in winning three points too.”
Stajcic was quick to stress the bigger picture: Pantazopoulos’ performance wasn’t just about individual brilliance. It was about growth, resilience, and rising to the challenge when the game demanded it.
“I’m extremely proud of him tonight. To navigate a tough period in the match and come out the other side performing like that—it was massively important for him and for the team.”
Pantazopoulos’ performance offers a perfect example of learning and adapting under pressure, a mindset the Wanderers will carry into Friday night’s massive clash against Adelaide United.
With the team still searching for their first win of the season, Stajcic and his squad will be looking to build on the lessons from Campbelltown, harnessing the confidence of strong individual displays like Pantazopoulos’ to make a statement in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.
