The Wanderers delivered their most complete performance of the season on Wednesday night, securing a hard-fought and fully deserved 3–2 victory over the Central Coast Mariners at CommBank Stadium.
In a match packed with quality, intensity and big moments, the Red & Black showed exactly the kind of football they want to take into this weekend’s Sydney Derby.
The tone was set immediately. Just 60 seconds in, the Wanderers stunned the visitors with a blistering opening goal.
Aidan Simmons whipped in a superb delivery from the right, Alou Kuol’s header was initially denied by Andrew Redmayne, but Bozhidar Kreav reacted quickest, drilling the rebound into the bottom corner. It was fast, furious and the perfect start in front of the home fans.
The Wanderers nearly doubled their lead moments later when Kosta Barbarouses fired a low shot toward the bottom corner, only to see it cannon back off the post. But the early momentum was undeniable.
The Mariners levelled in the 9th minute through a deflected strike from Lucas Mauragis, but the Wanderers’ response was immediate and emphatic.
Just two minutes later, Angus Thurgate curled in a teasing ball from the left and Barbarouses met it with total precision, steering it into the bottom corner to restore the lead. A roaring CommBank Stadium loved every second of it.
The chaos did not end there. On 22 minutes, a handball in the Mariners’ box sent the referee to the monitor for an extended VAR check, and the decision went the Wanderers’ way.
Up stepped Barbarouses, who buried his penalty to claim a first half brace and make it 3–1.
The Wanderers pushed relentlessly for a fourth, nearly finding it through Alex Gersbach, who sent a half volley agonisingly wide.
The Mariners then found their way back into the contest with a penalty of their own. Alfie McCalmont converted in the 37th minute to close the deficit in what had become a wildly entertaining, end to end first half.
After the break, the Wanderers regained control, playing with composure, confidence and attacking fluency.
Barbarouses twice looked threatening as he hunted a hat trick, combining beautifully with Simmons and Stevie Ugarkovic in sweeping attacking moves.
Simmons went close with a volley, and another flowing sequence saw Alex Bonetig pick out Simmons with a stunning diagonal before Ugarkovic lifted a shot over the bar.
As the clock ticked into the final minutes, the Wanderers were forced to withstand a late wave of pressure, and Lawrence Thomas delivered when it mattered most.
In the 94th minute, the captain produced a spectacular diving save to deny Nathan Paull from distance, sealing the Red & Black’s first Isuzu UTE A-League win of the season.
It was a night of attacking intent, clinical finishing and collective resilience, and one that arrived at the perfect time.
With confidence high, momentum building and key players finding form, the Wanderers now turn their full focus to one of the biggest fixtures of the year: the Sydney Derby this Saturday night.
CommBank Stadium will be electric, and the Red & Black will enter the match with belief, purpose and three points in their pocket.
Derby Week is officially on.
