The 2nd placed Western Sydney Wanderers lost to 8th place Newcastle Jets in what was a very eerie and overcast day at Pirtek Stadium on Sunday. What is usually an electric and positive atmosphere at Pirtek, normally helped by the Red and Black Bloc who were absent for reasons unknown, was quiet and gloomy in the lead up to the game.
Western Sydney were coming from a rollercoaster week after their debut in the Asian Champions league ended in disaster as their team lost 3-1 to Ulsan Hyundai FC on Wednesday.
The glum atmosphere had a major impact in the game as the match started off slowly. The Wanderers were getting into the final third of the pitch early but not creating enough chances, unable to do much unless Japanese maestro Shinji Ono was on the ball.
The first chance however went to Adam Taggart who had shot outside the box which went too high. Both the up-and-coming young Australian and his striking partner – former England international Emile Heskey, had good games and threatened Wanderers goalkeeper Ante Covic on many occasions.
But it was experienced defender Kew Jaliens to score the first goal for the Jets. Spiranovic cleared a set piece which found its way to Andrew Hoole who curled a beautiful ball into the far post on to the head of an unmarked Jaliens who finished with ease. Jaliens kept the header low into the corner and there was no way for Wanderers’ keeper Covic to get down.
Labinot Haliti got the Wanderers’ first real chance in the half 41 mins in with a header which went over the bar.
The 2nd half started much like the first. It was a slow tempo by the Wanderers , who were dominating possession but unable to create enough chances. Newcastle Jets used the power and physicality of Heskey and the pace and penetration of Adam Taggart in a quick and lethal counter attack, which proved to be the difference.
In another game, Wanderers might’ve won this game 3-1 win the possession they had (56%) had they created enough chances and Ono would’ve been man of the match.
But it wasn’t to be a good day for Western Sydney as Adam Taggart made Wanderers defender Nikolai Toopor-Stanley look like a pushover as he outmuscled Topor-Stanely with ease after cushioning a long ball from Heskey. Taggart used his body well to be able to cushion ball with his chest as well as keep Topor-Stanley away. Taggart then spun around and shot, which then came off Spiranovic for a deflected goal past Covic, effectively killing the tie.
It what has been a dismal week in Western Sydney after the loss to Ulsan during the week, as well as the RBB creating their own controversy, Wanderers fans will be quickly trying to forget about the week that was and look forward to the upcoming Sydney Derby as they take on Sydney FC this week.
Newcastle Jets fans who travelled on the other hand will be remembering this weekend for a while as not only were they able to out-sing a non-existent Red and Black Bloc but were able to witness a game that might just have saved them from the wooden spoon after such a woeful season.
MOTM: Adam Taggart.
Follow me on twitter: @morphjin
