Ross McCormack missed a penalty as a spirited Western Sydney Wanderers came from behind to beat Melbourne City 2-1 at ANZ Stadium on Monday night.
All three goals came amid a chaotic seven-minute spell in the first-half, with Oriol Riera and Mark Bridge both scoring in quick succession to overturn an early deficit.
McCormack had given City the lead with his eighth of the campaign, but the Scotland international missed the chance to equalise from the spot as Vedran Janjetovic’s save proved decisive in securing Josep Gombau’s second win in charge.
STORY OF THE GAME
- Wanderers suffered an early setback when Alvaro Cejudo limped off with a calf injury inside 10 minutes.
- The loss of Cejudo was compounded midway through the half, McCormack opening the scoring from Nathaniel Atkinson’s fine first-time cross.
- At the other end, Jumpei Kusukami hit the outside of the post from an impossible angle after a mix-up in City’s defence.
- Riera soon went one better though to restore parity on the half-hour.
- And the hosts were suddenly ahead less than two minutes later, Riera this time turning provider for Bridge.
- The first-half drama wasn’t over there, however, as Robert Cornthwaite brought down Scott Jamieson in the area, only for Janjetovic to claw McCormack’s penalty away from the bottom left corner.
- McCormack was again denied just beyond the hour when Llorente threw himself in front of a close-range shot.
- City had begun to take command, but lacked the clinical edge to turn their promising play into an equaliser as Janjetovic smartly held Luke Brattan’s late free-kick.
GOALS
McCormack, Melbourne City 25′: 0-1
Nick Fitzgerald released the marauding Atkinson on the right and the full-back’s excellent delivery across the face was bundled in at the far post by McCormack.
Riera, Western Sydney Wanderers 30′: 1-1
Riera deftly controlled Raul Llorente’s low cross in from the left and, after making space on Iacopo La Rocca, fired home on the turn.
Bridge, Western Sydney Wanderers 32′: 2-1
A determined Riera squirmed through traffic and squeezed the ball left to Bridge, who guided a clinical finish inside the bottom far corner.
This article was originally published at: www.a-league.com.au/news/wanderers-celebrate-new-year-with-comeback-win-over-city
