Wanderers Draw First Blood In First Leg
20,053 fans raucously welcomed the teams to the pitch in what was the first-leg of the AFC Asian Champions League final between the Western Sydney Wanderers and Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia. Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta was the venue for this spectacle of noise and continental football as the capacity crowd, with artistic mosaic and all, showered the contest in song long before anything had begun. Such is the passion this fanbase hold. The excitement was in the air: something special was going to take place. And special it was, as a brilliant run into the box from Tomi Juric allowed the ball to find the back of the net and give the Wanderers the 1-0 advantage. This still-maturing club wrote yet another memorable chapter in their history tonight in front of the world to see. It wasn’t easy but at the end of it all, advantage to the Red and Blacks.
Contrary to the result it was the visitors who started the match the more impressive. In fact, with just two minutes gone the Saudi’s had already fashioned their first chance as a bursting run from Thiago Neves allowed for a dangerous ball from teammate Al-Farij out wide to be uneasily cleared by Antony Golec. Much to the delight of the impressive turnout of away supporters neatly packed behind the opposing end of the field, Al-Hilal had set the tone for what was to come.
While the intensity in the stands represented more of the atmosphere this Australian club has become known for, the representative players on the pitch offered something completely different. While the Saudi club demonstrated a conglomeration of flair, pace, trickery and quick pass combinations; the Wanderers appeared sluggish and unable to penetrate their opposition’s half. A clear symbol of the nerves meandering throughout the team.
The dominance that the away side instilled onto the match in numbers was purely reflected by their time with the ball. Hilal retained the ball effortlessly for 60% of the time, and when the men dressed in red and black did reclaim possession little was done with it. A direct reason for their lack of attempts toward the goal of Al-Sdairy. The speed emanating from the likes of Al-Shamrani, Al-Zori, and Al-Dawsari were how the away side would start their offensive manoeuvres. The trio dazzled at times and left the Wanderers chasing shadows, but despite it all the Wanderers’ defence, as it has so regularly and astoundingly done in the competition to date, held on to go into the break with the score 0-0.
The second half offered something a little different as an improved Western Sydney came out with an objective to finally instil their will on the affair. With Tomi Juric freshly introduced, the home side now possessed more physicality and presence in the final third. Al-Hilal remained relatively unchanged in demeanour and gameplan as they continued to utilise their speed out-wide to create danger.
The 63rd minute however signalled the turning point for this entertaining first-leg final as a brilliant first-time delivery from consistent left-back Antony Golec allowed for Juric to arrive just in time to slide it home between the legs of Al-Sdairy. If there were a roof atop this compact stadium, it would have been well and truly lifted off by this point. The atmosphere was electric. On the balance of play thus far in the encounter one would have to feel the deadlock was broken against the run of play. Al-Hilal would be in fits with one another at their lack of both the final ball and killer instinct. Nevertheless, and to their Aussie-battling credit, Tony Popovic’s troops pushed on and got their reward.
Fatigue started to introduce itself onto the occasion as both sets of players appeared near spent at the amount of effort put into this occasion. But even still the impressive performance of Juric carried on as he appeared inches away from a sensational double as a swift solo dribble saw his shot curl onto the post of the oppositions goal.
Matthew Spiranovic came into the match in place of Mateo Poljak in order to avoid further caution to the Croatian, and resolidify the backline of this impressive A-League club. As the remaining ten minutes signified a tired Western Sydney side begin to sit back and unavoidably soak in the pressure being applied by Al-Hilal, one man stood between them and their elusive objective in taking something away from this match: Ante Covic.
The Wanderers’ highly experienced stopper truly stepped up to his mark and possibly played one of his best games to date. While tension and angst rose with every passing second, the veteran displayed composure, and rapid reflexes to deny a late flurry of attempts.
The full-time whistle was greeted with a roar that perhaps reached new decibels, as every single person apart of this impressive home side could not believe what had just transpired within the last refentic 90 minutes of football. The Western Sydney Wanderers had overcome a highly skilled and remarkable Al-Hilal team that for the majority of the match looked the more likely to break the deadlock. In the end at Pirtek Stadium, in front of a record crowd, the men from the streets of Western Sydney were victorious. And while the job is only half done in this final with the second-leg still to play in Saudi Arabia, everybody associated with football both in the region and the nation would be proud of what was accomplished out there tonight. 1-0 victors at the end of the first leg, and for the time being: Asia sings for the Wanderers.
Western Sydney 1 (Juric 63′) defeated Al-Hilal 0
Attendance: 20,053
FTS Man of the Match: Ante Covic
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