Western Sydney Wanderers 3-2 Melbourne City: Wanderers Win At Last
It took well over an hour for things to get underway at Pirtek Stadium but after 90 incredible minutes, Western Sydney Wanderers have moved off the bottom of the table with a 3-2 win over Melbourne City. A decent crowd of people braved the storm for the midweek match and it is no doubt most would be a happy bunch following this thriller.
Melbourne City started the much better of the two teams and were unlucky to not have taken the lead on numerous occasions. Aaron Mooy and Novillo were ever-present threats and looked the more lively to influence proceedings. The first real near chance for the visitors came by way of former Wanderer Mooy. The central midfielder whipped in a devilish delivery at dangerous pace into the box that Dean Bouzanis was able to avert onto his own bar, albeit knowing little about it.
However, just before the half hour mark the home side’s luck ran out as another decent Mooy delivery saw the deadlock broken. As the ball came in: Patrick Kisnorbo’s header was blocked on the line by Yojiro Takahagi but only for Safuwan to nod the ball into the back of the net.
Melbourne City could have so nearly added a second in silky style after intricate build-up play saw Robert Koren’s side footer skid just wide of the post. But despite the domination Melbourne dealt over the Asian champions, Mateo Poljak was able to pull the Wanderers level with what was their first shot of the game. After City’s inability to clear the initial cross from Labinot Haliti, as well as Tomi Juric’s effort, Poljak was on hand to guide the ball into the back of Tando Velaphi’s net.
With both sides all square and in desperate need of a victory, the second half put forth a much more even contest. After some opening back and forth exchanges, the stroke of the hour mark presented Tomi Juric with a big opportunity to take the lead from a free-kick. After initially winning the take the Socceroo fired his effort with ferocious force and sent Velaphi scrambling to make the save. Mere moments later and Velaphi was at his best to deny Juric once more. After some exquisite football from the red-and-blacks allowed Takahagi to send Juric clean through in the box, the former Glory keeper pulled off a well-timed save to stop what should have been the Wanderers’ second of the night.
But from one end to the other it was City who grabbed the lead in turntable fashion. Aaron Mooy’s free-kick from close to forty metres out was sent in with tempting and taunting pace that in the end left Bouzanis stranded and only able to watch the ball curl into the back of his net.
However Juric, whom just saw his low drive come off the bottom of the post, was finally able to make amends for his previous misses after being awarded a penalty. Connor Chapman’s challenge on the striker proved to be illegal and resulted in Juric making no mistake from the spot.
The match then took another influential swing in momentum as the visitors had to endure a difficult last ten minutes after Chapman saw red for pushing referee Strebre Delovski. In dramatic injury time fashion the extra man advantage proved telling for the Wanderers as Nikita Rukavytsya volleyed home from close range to send the home side 3-2 up and surely the winners of the contest.
At the sounding of the full-time whistle while the Wanderers celebrated their comeback victory, City were left somewhat frustrated to have gotten nothing at all despite being the better side for much of the match. Nevertheless it proved a highly entertaining game of football and one that now moves Western Sydney off the bottom of the table.
Western Sydney Wanderers 3 (Poljak 38′, Juric 79′, Rukavytsya 90+1′) defeat Melbourne City 2 (Safuwan 28′, Mooy 71′)
FTS Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy
Image: smh.com.au
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