The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have progressed to the Westfield FFA Cup Quarter Finals after a confident 4-0 victory over Bentleigh Greens at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex on Tuesday night.
Goals by Robbie Cornthwaite, Oriol Riera, Steven Lustica and Mark Bridge sealed the win for Tony Popovic’s side, who will now face NSW NPL side Blacktown City in the next round.
Despite Vedran Janjetovic being called into action on a couple of occasions early on, the Wanderers would find the opening goal after just 12 minutes.
Roly Bonevacia caught the Bentleigh defence napping, playing a quick-free kick into the path of Jumpei Kusukami who slotted the ball across the face of goal where Cornthwaite tapped in from close range.
The Wanderers began to wrestle control of the game, Bonevacia and Jaushua Sotirio in particular both having chances to double the advantage, though the score would remain 1-0 heading into the break.
The Red & Black wouldn’t have to wait long to find their second, as eight minutes after the restart marquee man Riera expertly headed home a pinpoint cross from Josh Risdon.
Moments later, Riera would have the chance to grab his second of the match from the penalty spot after Sotirio was brought down in the box, though the number 9’s effort rebounded off the post.
The Wanderers would have their third after 78 minutes when substitute Steven Lustica tucked home a left-footed volley after Bentleigh had failed to clear a corner.
The Red & Black added a fourth goal in stoppage time, as Sotirio was again upended in the box by former Wanderer Nick Ward, who saw red for his second yellow card of the match.
Mark Bridge stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake in what was his first competitive match since returning for the Wanderers.
The 4-0 victory over Bentleigh Greens sees the Wanderers progress to the Quarter Finals of the Westfield FFA Cup for the third consecutive year.
The Wanderers will now look ahead to all Western Sydney affair when they face off against Blacktown City.
The date and venue for the match will be confirmed in the coming days.
