The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers secured three wins in row for the first time in their short history, with an emphatic 6-1 victory over second-placed Adelaide United tonight at Parramatta Stadium.
The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers secured three wins in row for the first time in their short history, with an emphatic 6-1 victory over second-placed Adelaide United tonight at Parramatta Stadium.
Coach Tony Popovic had nothing but praise for his team for totally dominating their fancied opponents 3-0 at half time before putting them to the sword with another three goals in the second stanza.
“Even at 3-0, we challenged the players to try and go on with the game,” Popovoc said.
“It-s always difficult at 3-0 whether you take your foot off the pedal and try and hold on and make it a difficult second half.
“To get another three goals was very pleasing.
“We always maintained that with our performances and opportunities we-re creating, our day would come where things would fall for us and we would punish our opposition.”
But Popovic isn-t looking too far ahead at this point.
“I-m just thinking ahead to the next match (against Perth away on December 27),” he said.
“I-ll certainly enjoy Christmas lunch a little bit more after that victory.
“But we-ve got a tough 10-day period, with three games in 10 days against very good opponents.
“Our focus is on those three games and to hopefully come out with the right outcomes for us and maintain this positive run.”
Popovic also commended hat-trick scorer Mark Bridge.
“He finds the opportunities in every game he plays,” Popovic said.
“He gets in the right positions, but unfortunately for him he hasn-t had the reward for his good play.
“Today for him to get a hat-trick, I-m sure he-ll go home very happy.”
The Wanderers had their first real chance at the six minute mark of the match, when Mateo Poljak and Jerome Polenz linked up in the corner to set up an opportunity for striker Dino Kresinger, who put the ball in the back of the net, only to have it ruled offside.
In the 17th minute, some great footwork courtesy of Youssouf Hersi set up Bridge for the Wanderers- first goal of the game.
A great pass from Shinji Ono was followed up with a chip kick from Hersi over the head of the Adelaide defender, which allowed Bridge to slot the ball in pass the goal keeper at close range.
Some solid pressure through the midfield from Ono, Aaron Mooy and Polenz opened up the match, which allowed the Wanderers to set up some opportunities on goal.
The best chance came through Bridge at the 26 minute mark, whose shot was cut-off by Adelaide-s goal keeper and captain Eugene Galekovic.
After going down with a calf strain, Adam D-Appuzzo was subbed off in the 34th minute, replaced by Iacopo La Rocca.
Great defensive work from Nikolai Topor-Stanley and captain Michael Beauchamp in the backline kept Adelaide relatively quiet, with very few real opportunities on goal in the first half.
Parramatta stadium erupted right before half-time, when some fancy footwork by Bridge in the 44th minute put him and the Wanderers on the score sheet for the second time in the match.
The cheers from the 9054-strong crowd continued when a backward scissor kick from Ono allowed Kresinger to head the ball through goal during extra time.
Kresinger-s first goal for the club put them up 3-0 going into half-time
The Wanderers opened the second half just as they finished the first half, on the attack and searching for more goals.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 51st minute, when Ono-s shot from right on the 18 yard box, sailed past the Adelaide goal keeper, making the score 4-0.
In the 57th minute, Bridge made it a hat-trick when he and Hersi connected to put the Wanderers up 5-0.
Adelaide was able to make their first mark on the scoreboard when Dario Vidosic beat some desperate defence from Topor-Stanley in the 67th minute of the match.
That however, was the only highlight for the Reds who were outplayed and out enthused for the entire contest.
Substitute striker Joey Gibbs, on for Kresinger, was able to put the icing on the cake in the 89th minute with a beautiful shot from just inside the box, making the final score of the match 6-1.
Final Score – Wanderers – 6 (Bridge 17-, 44-, 57-, Kresinger 45-+2, Ono 51-, Gibbs 89-) def. Adelaide United – 1 (Vidosic 67-)AA
