Western Sydney Wanderers have stormed into the FFA Cup Round of 16 following a comprehensive 3-0 win over Broadmeadow Magic on Wednesday night.
The Wanderers made light work of their NPL Northern NSW opponents at a rain-soaked Newcastle No 2 Sportsground, scoring all three goals before the hour mark to secure their advance to the next round.
Carl Robinson’s side threatened from the get-go and took a deserved lead midway through the half when Bernie Ibini pounced on a fumbled save to convert at close range.
The Magic steadied the ship to keep the margin to a single goal at the break before the Wanderers ran away with the contest in the second stanza.
Teenager Alex Badolato capped off an impressive competitive debut for the Wanderers as he doubled the advantage shortly after the restart to further dent the host’s ambitions of a ‘Cupset’.
Steven Ugarkovic then effectively sealed the result with a thunderous long-range strike just minutes later to put paid to Magic’s hopes a fight back.
To their credit, the Magic fought to the end to deny Wanderers a fourth goal – seeing off a number of late strikes from the Isuze UTE A-League outfit.
The result marks a promising start to competitive fixtures for Robinson’s largely new-look Wanderers side, as they look to qualify for their first FFA Cup Final in this year’s edition of the competition.
KEY MOMENTS
5′ | Chance Wanderers – Terry Antonis threatens early with a strike from the top of the box that flashes just wide of the far post.
20′ | Chance Magic – A floated cross to the back post from Jacob Dowse finds Jacob Harris in space and his first time stab draws a sharp save from Tomás Mejías.
26′ | Goal Wanderers – Bernie Ibini is Johnny-on-the-spot as Magic goalkeeper Shayne Van As can’t hold onto a skidding shot from Steven Ugarkovic and tucks away a close range finish.
47′ | Goal Wanderers – 16-year-old Alex Badolato doubles the advantage in his competitive Wanderers debut as Van As can only push Adama Traoré’s centering pass into the young Wanderers path.
51′ | Goal Wanderers – Ugarkovic delivers a flat strike from 25 yards out that leaves Van As unsighted through a sea of defenders and nestles into the back of the net.
55′ | Chance Wanderers – Ibini is picked out in space near the penalty spot but the Magic are thankful for the reprieve as he shanks his first-time volley wide of the target.
65′ | Chance Magic – The hosts break-away into the box against the run-of-play but Dowse’s strike is pushed away by Mejías.
68′ | Chance Wanderers – Dimitri Petratos misses a gilt-edged chance to add his name to the scoresheet as he misses his first-time strike from near on the goal line from Ramy Najjarine’s squaring ball.
76′ | Chance Wanderers – Another fumble in the wet from Van As from a cross falls invitingly for Keijiro Ogawa but he can’t convert with his reflex strike.
88′ | Chance Wanderers – A flurry of late strikes from the Wanderers threaten to blow out the score further, with Alessandro Lopane coming closest with a firm hit saved by full-stretched Van As.
90+4′ | Chance Wanderers – Jordan Swibel has a late one-on-one chance to ice the win but hits the post in the closing seconds of the contest.
MATCH DETAILS
FFA Cup 2021 – Round of 32: Broadmeadow Magic v Western Sydney Wanderers
Newcastle No 2 Sportsground, Newcastle
Wednesday, 10 November 2021
Attendance: 892
Broadmeadow Magic – 0
Western Sydney Wanderers – 3 (Bernie IBINI 26′, Alex Badolato 47′, Steven Ugarkovic 51′
