Brisbane Roar 1-4 Western Sydney Wanderers: Wanderers Run Roar Rampant
Brisbane Roar entered their midweek clash against the Western Sydney Wanderers knowing anything less than three points would surrender advantage to Melbourne City in the race for sixth spot. But at the end of an entertaining 90 minutes it was the Wanderers who depart the Sunshine State with all three points after a dominant display saw them run out 4-1 winners.
It took just under ten minutes for the visitors to find their feet in the contest as Nikita Rukavytsya found himself free with a moment of space inside the box. But, much to the frustration of his fellow forwards lurking inside the six-yard area, the Ukranian-born Australian instead opted to take the shot at goal that in the end sliced wide.
A mere five minutes later and the visitors came even closer once again. After an audacious long ball from Romeo Castelen saw Kerem Bulut beat the offside trap and force a good save from Jamie Young, the danger was still looming as Labinot Haliti had the chance to bury the rebound. With Young still on the floor from the previous save the goal remained wide open for the taking but, to the surprise of many, the Kosovo-born forward’s tame tap-in was blocked off the line by Luke Brattan.
But despite this the ‘red-and-blacks’ were finally able to find their breakthrough midway through the first half. Once again after another beautiful spread of play dismantled the unusual Roar set-up, Labinot Haliti played an unmarked Rukavytsya into the box with the goal at his mercy. And to the former Glory frontman’s credit, his first-time finish was clinical.
Aside from being largely outplayed for the majority of the first half the Roar were fortuitously able to get back into the contest and level things up at one apiece. After a dangerous Luke Brattan corner was teasingly whipped in, the inexperienced Jonathan Aspro had difficulty clearing his lines and inadvertently turned the ball into the back of his own net.
However, the honours did not remain even for much longer as another rapid counter-attack saw Kerem Bulut fire the ball home to send the advantage back in the visitors’ favour. After Haliti commenced the counter-attack in rapid motion with a delightful pass into the path of the oncoming Castelen, the Dutchman, unselfishly laid the ball across to the charismatic Bulut who made no mistake with his effort.
The Roar’s retaliation was on full display very much in sync with the second-half’s resumption as Steven Lustica and Luke Brattan both saw long-range efforts come narrowly close to levelling the match. Though unfortunately for the ‘Oranje’, instead it was the Wanderers who magnified the home side’s misery. After Castelen had been played into the box by Yojiro Takahagi the flying Dutchman wasted little time in unleashing a ferocious attempt at goal that emphatically whizzed past Young, cannoned off the underside of the bar, and into the back of the net.
In the dying minutes of regulation time and with most members of the Brisbane side seemingly out on their feet, the Wanderers were able to capitalise on the sluggish defending once more to put the final nail in the champions’ coffin. With Kerem Bulut through on goal and with only the goalkeeper to beat, the controversial striker had no trouble in putting the ball into the back of the net and claiming his well-deserved double.
At the end of the match the Western Sydney Wanderers have achieved a deserved victory with arguably their best performance of the season, albeit against a tired Roar roster. The 4-1 victory propels Tony Popovic’s team off the bottom of the table with what is their first win on the road this season. Meanwhile, Frans Thijssen’s side now have it all to do if they are to finish ahead of Melbourne City with the final spot for finals football.
Brisbane Roar 1 (Aspro O.G. 41′) defeated by Western Sydney Wanderers 4 (Rukavytsya 20′, Bulut 44′, 88′, Castelen 58′)
FTS Man of the Match: Kerem Bulut
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