Western Sydney Wanderers FC have recorded a 12-2 victory against Macarthur Rams in their second season pre-season friendly of the 2020/21 season.
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A hat-trick for Ali Auglah, doubles from Jordan O’Doherty and Dean Pelekanos, as well as goals from Kosta Grozos, Jarrod Carluccio, Alessandro Lopane, Thomas Aquilina, and Alex Badolato wrapped up the scoring for the Red & Black in what was a very dominant performance by Carl Robinson’s men.
The Wanderers fielded a more senior side compared to their previous pre-season friendly with foreigners Nicolai Muller and Patrick Ziegler named as well as experienced youngsters Keanu Baccus, Jordan O’Doherty, Tate Russell, and Tass Mourdoukoutas who slotted back in after returning from national team camp.
The Red & Black started postively with O’Doherty opening the scoring after weaving his way through the Rams’ defence and sneaking in a low shot.
At the other end, the Rams responded and capitalised on two chances to make it 2-1 before a drinks break due to the heat.
The Wanderers then turned it up a notch and Auglah’s hard work at the start of the first half began to pay off with the striker leveling the score straight after the drinks break.
A couple of minutes later, Auglah went on to put the Red & Black back into the lead thanks to a great strike making it 3-2.
O’Doherty continued to create problems for the Rams and combined well with Auglah to create a number of chances.
It was only a matter of time before O’Doherty then scored his second and some great work by Auglah in the lead-up saw the midfielder round the keeper to make it 4-2 at the end of the first-half.
The Red & Black continued the intensity and aggression in the second half with Daniel Georgievski, Muller, and Russell all having some great chances to continue the scoring early on.
Young gun Auglah continued his impressive performance going on to score a hat-trick after chipping the keeper to make it 5-2 for the Red & Black.
Head coach Carl Robinson then made a host of changes bringing on the first set of young guns including Alessandro Lopane, Kosta Grozos, Dean Pelekanos, Thomas Aquilina, and Nectarios Triantis.
Pelekanos took the opportunity with both hands, scoring two goals in two minutes to take the Wanderers to 7-2.
The goal scoring frenzy didn’t stop there with Robinson emptying the rest of the bench with the next batch of youngsters who were determined to make their mark on the pre-season friendly.
Next to add their name onto the scoresheet was Grozos who after some nifty work in the box fired home to take the Wanderers to 8 goals.
Defender Carluccio made it 9 following some creative work by Alex Badolato and Lopane in the midfield with Lopane then switching from provider to goalscorer after Badolato pushed his way past the Rams to feed through the perfect ball for Lopane to fire past the keeper.
Aquilina then got into the action, pouncing on a cross from Carluccio that wasn’t cleared to make it 11-2.
To wrap up the scoring, 15-year-old Badolato got on the scoresheet thanks to Aquilina’s fine work down the right to take the Wanderers to 12 goals. A very memorable moment both for the youngster and the club.
The victory for Carl Robinson’s men recorded the Wanderers’ highest-ever goals scored in a single match and will no doubt be looking to carry this onto their next pre-season friendly.
Starting XI: Oliver KALAC (GK), Dylan MCGOWAN, Patrick ZIEGLER, Daniel GEORGIEVKSI, Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS, Tate RUSSELL, Jordan O’DOHERTY, Keanu BACCUS, Mo AL-TAAY, Nicolai MULLER and Ali AUGLAH.
Substitutes: Dean PELEKANOS, Alex BADOLATO, Nectarios TRIANTIS, Thomas AQUILINA, Kosta GROZOS, Peter GROZOS, Lochlan CONSTABLE, Noah PAGDEN, Jarrod CARLUCCIO, Isaac HOVAR, Johnathan MARRAS, Alessandro LOPANE and Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK)
