The Wanderers have fallen to a 4-1 defeat in the Sydney Derby at Commbank Stadium on Saturday.
Our opponents got off to a fast start with two goals within seven minutes, and despite Western Sydney’s efforts to get back into the game, they were able to score two more goals in the second half to secure victory.
In front of a crowd of nearly 28,000, Brandon Borrello got in behind the opposition defence after less than a minute and slid a ball across the box, but Nicolas Milanovic was unable to meet it in the middle of the penalty area.
The away side punished this failure to convert just a minute later when Rhyan Grant headed home after a short corner routine.
The Wanderers’ woes were compounded in the seventh minute when a wicked deflection saw the ball hit the outstretched hand of Lachie Brook, leaving referee Alex King with no choice but to point to the spot.
Fabio Gomes stepped up and was able to roll the ball past Daniel Margush to double his side’s lead.
The Wanderers did their best to get a foothold in the game, and Borrello thought he had done that when he latched onto a long ball and scored past Andrew Redmayne, but the flag went up for offside and the goal was chalked off.
Soon after, Borrello and Sonny Kittel – in his first start for the club – had quick chances in succession, but both strong efforts were parried away by Redmayne.
Margush and defender Alex Bonetig then intervened wonderfully to stop goalscoring chances as the half wore on, before the latter went close to scoring before half-time with a header from a free-kick, though he couldn’t keep it down.
The visitors scored their third goal shortly after half-time, when they won the ball in midfield and fed it to Robert Mak, who finished into the bottom corner.
Milanovic had a strong attempt at goal soon after, but he couldn’t direct it on target, beforeFabio Gomes scored his second goal of the game for the visitors from close range just before the hour mark.
Zac Sapsford was introduced off the bench shortly after, and he helped create the Wanderers’ goal in the 72nd minute, as he found space and sent a cross into the box, which was deflected into the goal by defender Jake Girdwood-Reich.
Borrello and Sapsford had further chances to reduce the deficit as the game reached its final stages, but both were well saved by Redmayne.
After the defeat, the Wanderers still sit in the top six, and host Western United on Friday night.
