The Western Sydney Wanderers ISUZU Ute A-League team’s pre-season preparations have continued, playing out in 3-3 draw against Blacktown City on Tuesday night.
Goals from Dimi Petratos, Tass Mourdoukoutas, and Alex Badolato held Blacktown City to a draw in the club’s third pre-season match of the campaign.
The Wanderers fielded a very young squad with Academy products like Daniel Wilmering, Mark Natta, Tass Mourdoukoutas, and Tate Russell playing alongside senior trio Terry Antonis, James Troisi, and Dimi Petratos.
Despite some good work in the opening stanza, the Red & Black went down 1-0 after Blacktown’s Charles Mendy broke through the Wanderers defence to fire a low strike into the far corner.
Mourdoukoutas was a standout in the Wanderers midfield, connecting well with Antonis and Petratos to create some great chances for the Red & Black.
The Wanderers hit back through Petratos, whose audacious strike from a difficult angle left the keeper at a standstill.
New scholarship signing Jordi Swibel looked destined to put the Wanderers in front, putting stacks of pressure on Blacktown’s keeper.
Before the break though, Blacktown managed to jump back in front 2-1 with former Wanderer Mario Shabow getting on the scoresheet.
The second half saw the Red & Black come out fighting and it didn’t take long for Mourdoukoutas to level the scores once more.
After weaving his way through Blacktown’s defence, Mourdoukoutas fired a powerful shot to put the Wanderers even at 2-2.
A number of changes from head coach Carl Robinson saw some of the bench emptied with some of the senior players in the squad replaced.
It was almost the perfect start for substitutes Jarrod Carluccio and Alex Badolato who came on and made an immediate impact.
The youngsters combined in the final third with Carluccio cutting across the face of the goal before Badolato’s strike smashed into the post. 
A chaotic final ten minutes ensued with Blacktown’s Jak O’Brien putting the visitors back in front before an impressive strike from young gun Badolato wrapped up the match thanks to a perfect assist from Troisi.
The result continues the Wanderers undefeated run this pre-season with the side set to take on Wellington Phoenix in a Foundation Members Only fixture next.
