Western Sydney Wanderers extended their unbeaten run of games to six following a 2-0 result against Melbourne Victory in Parramatta on Wednesday night.
A clumsy challenge from substitute Rudy Gestede resulted in a penalty convered by the hosts’ skipper Graham Dorrans, while Kwame Yeboah doubled the lead late on to extinguish any hope that the visitors had in rescuing a point from the encounter.
The hosts came into the game on the back of good form and harbouring strong ambition towards a positive season in the A-League. An opening day defeat to new boys Macarthur was followed by a reasonable set of results that included a draw with Sydney FC and a victory over a resurgent Central Coast Mariners.
Victory on the other hand had a miserable season and were coming from the back of a lesson in football at Redcliffe, where Brisbane Roar comprehensively beat Grant Brebner’s men with a 5-2 scoreline. The gaffer had since spoken about expecting a reaction from his charges, while fans and critics awited this encounter with a hightened sense of expectation.
The game began with the visitors on the front foot with midfielder Jacob Butterfield having a go at goal after four minutes, but goalkeeper Daniel Margush did well to palm the ball away.
Five minutes later at the other end, a poor clearance from defender Ryan Shotton saw the Wanderers captain Dorrans pick up the loose ball and pass it to Daniel Georgievski. The ex-Macedonia international took a curling shot that appeared to have shot-stopper Max Crocombe beaten as it appeared to be going into the top corner. But the ball eventually ended up kissing the post and going wide.
Just a little more than 20 minutes had passed when Victory were handed a heavy blow with Marco Rojas having to be taken off due to a facial injury. Experienced midfielder Dorrans went in for a challenge with a high boot that caught the Kiwi in the face. The 29-year-old went down clutching his face as he bled profusely, as an apologetic Dorrans watched medical staff attend to the injured player. As the Victory fan favourite was unable to continue, young Brandon Lauton was brought on as a substitute.
Twenty eight minutes of the game had gone when a soft clearance from the visitors led to a cross from the left flank. Young defender Mark Natta launched an unmarked header that went wide.
The travellers’ medical staff were really earning their keep in Parramatta as defender Nick Ansell took a knock to his face and required some patch work, but was able to continue.
Despite the bruises, Brebner’s men were producing a performance that was vastly better than their previous outing, and some excellent play in the 40th minute allowed young Birkan Kirdar to take a shot from about 25 yards out. But shot-stopper Margush was in a good position and made a solid one-handed save to deny the effort.
A minute later, pressure from midfielder Keanu Baccus saw the Wanderers win the ball allowing James Troisi to set up the youngster in space. The inevitable shot went towards the near post and caused Crocombe to produce a quick one-handed save on that occasion.
Early on in the second-half, the New South Wales outfit – who are yet to concede in open play – showed their weakness from set-plays, as Victory midfielder Jake Brimmer took a free-kick from the right that was flicked on by full-back Storm Roux. While no travelling man got to the end of it, all the men in red and black were caught ball watching.
An hour had gone by when Brebner brought attacker Robbie Kruse off as the towering Rudy Gestede made his way onto the pitch. But the substituted striker was furious about being taken off.
With about 20 minutes to go, Gestede had an impact at the wrong end as a high boot in the box caught his opposite number Bernie Ibini to catch one in the face. The man in charge immediately stopped the game and pointed to the spot, and captain Dorrans stepped up to the spot.
Goalkeeper Crocombe did all he could to make himself look big in goal, even diving the right way as the penalty was taken. But the shot was just a little too well placed and timed for him to get to it. Meanwhile, Wanderers’ boss Carl Robinson celebrated by remonstrating with the referee for not sending off Gestede as the tall hitman had previously seen a yellow.
The home side made it 2-0 with less than three minutes of normal time left, when Ibini played fellow forward Yeboah through on goal. The Yirrkala-born hitman took his time to take the shot with his first touch, and ‘keeper Crocombe was only able to get a touch on as the ball sailed into the back of the net.
Once the second goal went in, it was game over for the visitors and the Wanderers took away all three points to stretch their undefeated run to six games in the A-League.
Western Sydney take on Melbourne City in Parramatta on Saturday, while Melbourne Victory lock horns with Wellington Phoenix on Wednesday as they attempt to crawl out of the rock bottom of the league.
