Santa The Hattrick Hero

[mack]

Fresh from becoming the Wanderers all time leading goalscorer, Brendon Santalab smashed a brilliant hat-trick to put down Melbourne City 3-1 at the Sydney Showground.

Along with his brace against Wellington last week, Santalab's treble sees him rocket to equal 3rd in the golden boot race behind Besart Berisha & Bruno Fornroli & level with Jamie Maclaren. 3 minutes into the game however and the prognoisis for the Wanderers looked grim after they conceded a goal to Neil Kilkenny. Nick Fitzgerald crabwalked sideways inside the Wanderers penalty area, he played a short pass across the top of the box and Kilkenny lined up a shot on the edge of the penalty area semi-circle. It looked off target but was on course to hit Jonathan Aspro, and the young defender shied away from contact with the ball. His decision to turn his back on the ball was costly as it rebounded from his back into the dead centre of the goal, with Vedran Janjetovic left stranded.

The Wanderers hit back level after 20 minutes, Nico Martinez waltzed past a City defender, then found Santalab, he took a touch that bought him in towards goal, and his second was a stunning strike that beat Thomas Sorensen at the near post.

Scott Neville combined with Santalab to put the Wanderers in front just after an hour. Kearyn Baccus launched a cross field bomb of a pass down to the right wing, Scott Neville chased after it, halted the ball before it crossed the byline, then curled in a left footed cross onto the penalty spot, Santalab was on the mark, with three City defenders converging on his position, he knocked a pinpoint header into the bottom far corner of the net. He celebrated in front of the RBB with a trademark jumping leap.

In the 67th minute Santalab had his hat-trick, and the Wanderers were two in front. Jack Clisby maruadingdown the flank having overlapped Jumpei, he cut inside perhaps to shoot, but his touch was heavy, but a challenge with Brattan saw the ball loop up into the penalty box. Santalab & Sorensen both attacked the ball, Santalab getting there first, his deft touch passed the outstretched hands of the keeper and nestled into the back of the net.

Melbourne City saw a glimmer of hope in the 75th minute, as Baccus tripped Nick Fitzgerald in the box and conceded a penalty. Bruno Fornaroli stepped up but made a mess of the spot kick, it was weak, low and central, and Janjetovic kicked it away with his feet. As much as City huffed & puffed they weren't able to get a clean chance on goal again, and the Wanderers ran out winners 3-1.

Although the result didn't change any position in the top 4, it gives Brisbane a chance to go level on points while Perth could end up a single point behind. The Wanderers themselves are now just 2 points behind Brisbane & 1 behind Perth, with their 3 games remaining they could very well find themselves in position for a home final.

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[sonar]

Santa Sizzles...City Fizzles.

[Smoggy]

Woow what a game..saved the best at Spotless until last, and those around me got in to it for a change..

 

Santa was just immense. Hitting some good form now.

[Valter43]

I wish we were playing like this from the beginning of the season. Excellent passing between the players, communication and focus is definitely on the up. Nichols putting in a hard shift as usual.

 

Also lmao the look that Tara is giving to Popa...

 

[StringerBellend]

Neville has learned to cross, he was boss tonight

[sonar]

I wish we were playing like this from the beginning of the season. Excellent passing between the players, communication and focus is definitely on the up. Nichols putting in a hard shift as usual.

 

Also lmao the look that Tara is giving to Popa...

 

We were really ragged for the first 20min or so then Santa scored and it was like the team flicked a switch and the lights went on !

[StringerBellend]

I wish we were playing like this from the beginning of the season. Excellent passing between the players, communication and focus is definitely on the up. Nichols putting in a hard shift as usual.

 

Also lmao the look that Tara is giving to Popa...

 

That's exactly the look Unlimited described the other night in one of the other threads.

[xxBrandonxx]

Burning I couldn't make it 

 

Build the statue farkeeen

[Valter43]

We were really ragged for the first 20min or so then Santa scored and it was like the team flicked a switch and the lights went on !

 

 

 

I missed most of the first half due to work but what I did see was really impressive. If we keep up this level of performance we have a good chance of climbing up the table, only 2 points behind Brisbane who are in 4th and 5 behind City in 3rd.

[wilsonpastore]

three straight wins in all competitions, finally some good football on the field we can be proud of, the season is finally turning around.

[tardotz]

Well deserved. What can you say about Santa. Almost had 4.

 

Nico looked very tired and not playing at his best. Mitch has to improved in last couple of games and Vedran saving the penalty is going to fill the defense with confidence.

Hope Dimas enjoys Spain a bit longer.

[pseudonym]

yeah!

 

https://youtu.be/3nJ9Ha--pAg

[wanderersfanatic]

I wish we were playing like this from the beginning of the season. Excellent passing between the players, communication and focus is definitely on the up. Nichols putting in a hard shift as usual.

 

Also lmao the look that Tara is giving to Popa...

 

Mack! This needs to be an emoticon! Edited March 24, 2017 by wanderersfanatic

[Horus]

Santa legend...Mitch the little engine that could...but what I'm really happy about is that just like Wellington, we could have had a few more on the score sheet and it didn't cost us the game like earlier this season

 

and...

 

 

 

I was dead against Vedran's signing...and underwhelmed by Antonis's.....thats why its #poppaIn and I'm just a jobber who plays a bit of Fifa on amatuer from time to time

[Themumf]

Vedran is a really good keeper. F*** this Galekovic rubbish.

[tardotz]

Not a lot of people but Spotless did not sound bad tonight

Edited March 24, 2017 by tardotz

[Cynth]

Santa and Vedran blew my mind tonight! But really it was so good to see the team play well for the whole 90 mins!

[StringerBellend]

I like the spotless better when we win, taking ages to get home but who cares

Edited March 24, 2017 by StringerBellend

[JayZko]

Thank god ange doesn't take the best striker in the competition based on age or we'd be screwed thank god for santa

[matty]

Well that was a nice surprise

[EmMac]

So happy right now. A glorious game. Could have had three more. That sitter that butters missed. Mama mia! My sisters were with me. They had a ball. One sister was yelling out to the linesmann, 'oi, you, flag waver, get a new job'. Also was calling vedran, The Highlighter. Served some abuse to the ref. All is good with the world

[Themumf]

Such a huge difference with a midfield of Baccus, Antonis with Nico and Mitch in there. The biggest difference is the full backs bombing forward because of the early release. Looked a side to avoid in the finals.

[wanderersfanatic]

No Dimas = Win

[sonar]

Can anyone see Dimas getting a start anytime soon ?

[wanderersfanatic]

Our set pieces are looking more dangerous without Dimas.

[Sithslayer1991]

Baccus was boss the whole game bar the penalty he gave. He stopped almost all attacks from Melbourne city and started the moves for the 2nd and 3rd goal which by the way one helll of a run taking out 4 city defenders. Would have been my MVP if it weren't for super Santa with his hatrick. One more win and we seal the finals spot

[DamnedUnited]

Kerem who. The Wollongong wonder

[TheSweeper]

Neville has learned to cross, he was boss tonight

Neville and Clisby were fantastic tonight , great defence , excellent runs forward and awesome crossing . I thought Neville was MOTM.

[Smoggy]

Can anyone see Dimas getting a start anytime soon ?

 

ACL perhaps, HAL no....

[TheSweeper]

Ridiculous trying to funnel 10000 people through the narrow barriers after the game . Stuff like that gets people crushed if something goes wrong . The ****wits in charge of that should be held accountable .