A second half Zac Sapsford goal has seen the Western Sydney Wanderers secure a 2-1 win over Perth Glory in midweek A-League Men action.
The young striker’s fourth goal of the league campaign was enough for the Wanderers to see off a resilient Perth side in a gritty win, with the Glory scoring an early equaliser in the second half after Western Sydney led for much of the first half.
Alen Stajcic’s side broke their long Perth hoodoo in their last trip to WA, and they got off to a fantastic start after just three minutes, albeit in a very fortunate manner.
Brandon Borrello had a shot initially saved by Oli Sail, but there was then pinball in the Perth box, which somehow led to former Wanderers Tomi Mrcela slipping and putting the ball into his own net; the own goal was later credited to Andriano Lebib as it took a touch off him on the way through.
The Wanderers could have easily had two more as Sail then dropped a corner moments later, but fullback Josh Risdon did just enough to put off Nicolas Milanovic at the far post.
Sapsford was next to find space on the back post, but his header was deflected behind for a corner.
The match slowed considerably after a frantic first 10 minutes, as the Wanderers tried to play the ball through the back but struggled to do so as Perth pushed forward.
They still created chances as Borrello fired wide, and Milanovic had a very good opportunity just before the break well saved by Sail.
It would be a pivotal moment, as three minutes after the break the Glory levelled the game through Adam Taggart.
Risdon found space down the right, and his low cross was turned home by the Perth striker.
Perth took some momentum from this and created a couple of opportunities, but were unable to convert, before the Wanderers settled back into the game and took control of proceedings.
Borrello had yet another chance he couldn’t direct past Sail, but it wouldn’t matter as just before the hour mark the Wanderers retook the lead.
A Sail goal kick fell kindly to Milanovic in acres of space, and he fed the ball through to Sapsford, who successfully got on the shoulder of Mrcela.
Sail decided to rush out, but this gave the chance for Sapsford to go around him and finish clinically slightly off balance, showing his predatory instincts have developed this season.
Perth, buoyed by their home crowd, pushed for an equaliser, but this made the game more stretched and gave the Wanderers chances on the counter attack.
Borrello had two good chances back to back but was offline with both of them as the usually lethal attacker had an off day in front of goal.
The Wanderers made some late changes to bring energy into the midfield and wide positions in order to counter Perth’s desperate attempts to go forward, and they were happy to sit in a lower block in stoppage time to soak up the pressure.
It was a successful strategy, as the Wanderers held on for a workmanlike but still very important three points.
With a game against the Mariners back at home on Friday, it means the Wanderers have an excellent chance of finishing the weekend in the top six if they can defeat the reigning champions at CommBank Stadium.
