Western Sydney Wanderers’ faint finals hopes are still flickering after a massive 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar at Bankwest Stadium on Sunday.
A goal in each half from Bernie Ibini and Bruce Kamau not only snapped the Wanderers’ three-game losing streak but kept their top six hopes alive for at least another 24 hours.
Goalkeeper Daniel Margush was outstanding for the hosts, making four sensational saves in a timely reminder to Olyroos boss Graham Arnold ahead of July’s Tokyo Olympics.
It was the first time – at the fourth attempt – that the Wanderers have managed to beat the Roar at Bankwest and heaps pressure on the likes of Macarthur FC, Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory heading into the last week of the regular season.
It was a disappointing night for Roar, who also lost skipper Tom Aldred to injury in the first half.
The defeat ends their hopes of a top-two finish but Warren Moon’s side need just one win from their final two games – against Perth Glory and Sydney FC – to secure finals football.
Key moments
Danzaki squanders glorious early chance
The Wanderers may have made the stronger start but it was Brisbane who should have taken the lead inside nine minutes.
Rahmat Akbari and Joey Champness combined in the middle of the pitch with the latter’s through-ball finding Danzaki in behind the defence.
The Japanese playmaker only had Daniel Margush to beat but the Wanderers keeper somehow got a hand on the shot which looped up over the crossbar.
Ibini’s scorcher gives Wanderers the lead
Roar gloveman Jamie Young made a couple of outstanding saves in quick succession to deny Keanu Baccus a goal but there was nothing he could do to keep out Ibini’s strike on 28 minutes.
There appeared little threat as Thomas Aquilina dribbled in from the right and fed Ibini about 25 metres from goal.
But Ibini managed to turn and get a shot away at goal, with the ball arrowing into the far bottom corner past a despairing Young.
Margush saves Wanderers again
The visitors had one final chance before the break but again found Margush too hard to beat.
Roar sliced through the heart of the Wanderers defence with Alex Parsons combining with Danzaki, who dribbled into the box but was denied by the feet of Margush.
Roar regained possession with Neville then unleashing a fierce long-range drive which whistled just wide of the post.
Penalty shout for Roar?
Roar were throwing everything at the Wanderers defence and felt they should have had a penalty inside the last 14 minutes.
Danzaki nodded down a lofted ball into the box into the path of Cyrus Dehmie, who saw his shot blocked by a lunging Ziggy Gordon.
While Gordon was sprawled on the tough, Roar’s Jesse Daley tripped over the Wanderers defender and pleaded for a spot kick which was waved away by the referee.
Kamau makes the points safe
As Roar were pushing hard for an equaliser the Wanderers had space on the counter attack and made one count a couple of minutes from time.
James Troisi’s clever pass got Kamau in behind and after evading a couple of defenders he did well to slot past Jamie Young at his near post.
