New Year's Day saw the Western Sydney Wanderers running out comfortable 3-1 winners against Macarthur FC with Nicolas Milanovic's man of the match performance as the dominant creative force. The Wanderers started strongly with a goal each for Marcus Antonsson and Aidan Simmons, Jake Hollman bought it back to 2-1 before half-time but Valentino Yuel was the impact sub and secured the game with the Wanderers 3rd.
Both teams came into the game on an identical 15 points from 4 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses, the difference coming from the Wanderers superior goal difference and both looking for a win to propel them within striking distance of the ladder leaders Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory. The long awaited return of Milos Ninkovic was confirmed in the pre-game, the midfield maestro being named on the substitutes bench. Goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas was absent due to his Australian national team call up for the Asian Cup, a role that should see him out for at least another month. Both teams came into the match after a loss, the Wanderers a 2-0 win in a very late collapse against the Nix and the Bulls let a two goal lead slip away in a 3-2 loss to Perth.
20 year old Jack Gibson made his debut for the Wanderers, one that he wouldn't have thought possible after leaving the club last season to join Marconi. Macarthur's lineup included another former Wanderers goal-keeper, with Danijel Nizic as the Bulls sub keeper. Matthew Jurman, Kearyn Baccus and Ali Auglah also playing against their former club.
It took all of 3 minutes to open the scoring for the home side. A perfect through ball from Jorrit Hendrix found the perfect run of Nicolas Milanovic. He was clear through into the penalty area and he slipped the ball back across the face of goal, Marcus Antonsson was the fox in the box and he wasn't going to miss from 6 yards out with just the keeper to beat.
Macarthur's poor start continued when Raphael was carded for diving inside the box, a clear cut attempt at simulation, and went from bad to worse when they conceded a 2nd goal a minute later. Milanovic had ball at feet on the sideline and he drove toward the box, beating Yianni Nicolaou for both pace and technique, getting down to the byline to chip the ball to the back post where Aiden Simmons leapt into the air to nod the ball down back the way it came and beating Filip Kurto to make it 2-0.
The visitors pulled a goal back with a stunning long range effort from Jake Hollman. He was one out against Lachlan Brook, on the left flank. He took advantage of a moment of hesitation in closing him down to cut back onto his right foot and firing a curling rocket from 24 yards out. It gave Jack Gibson no chance, flying into the top corner and banging off the inside of the far post and into the goal. It might win the prize for the biggest difference between the quality of the strike and the lack of celebration due to it only brining the Bulls one goal back. Matt Jurman picked up a yellow card for a reckless diving challenge on the sideline in the 26th minute.
The remainder of the half fizzled, with little more attack from either side barring a pair of wayward long bombs from Brook and Marcelo. In stoppage time a melee broke out on halfway with Clayton Lewis making a shocking tackle on Oscar Priestman, following it up with an MMA takedown that Jack Clisby took exception against, the fullback running in to break it up and getting both himself and Lewis yellow carded after the Judges scored it a split draw. Both teams headed into the break with the match poised in favour of the Wanderers but with Macarthur showing enough that the second half wouldn't be a procession.
Milanovic almost put the 3rd on a platter, he breezed through the Macarthur defence and delivered a quality cross into the middle, where Brook should have added to his Wanderers goal tally but instead hit it straight at Kurto from point-blank range.
The 52nd minute had action at both ends. The first with Raphael's theatrical dive when he attempted to go past Marcelo but lost the ball. It was cleared up to the Macarthur defensive zone by Marcelo and Antonsson almost touched the ball around Kurto who had flown out of the penalty area. The keeper got enough of a touch to stop the ball and his outstretched leg then took down the Swedish striker. Play stopped for Raphael to get the name & number of a good acting coach, and for Antonsson with a knock to the leg.
One sub each came on the typical hour mark, Raphael leaving for Jed Drew & Brook making way with Valentino Yuel coming on. Drew almost made an instant impact, a cut back from the right wing found Ulises Davila but he screwed his wrong-footed finish to the wrong side of the post. Milanovic and Badolato combined with excellent play inside the box, Milanovic touching the ball onto his left to give him space to reach the byline, and his cutback was dangerous but cleared out for a corner by Ivan Vujica. Badolato almost scored from the corner, curling a shot that looked until the very last second to be heading into the top corner. Jorrit Hendrix went down in a heap after a midfield collision with Davila. 15 minutes left and Jack Gibson had his best save of the game, going down to his left to block a would be cut-back along the 6 yard box.
The flurry of subs continued, Gabi Cleur on for Priestman, Tate Russell for Simmons and man of the match Nicolas Milanovic leaving for Dylan Pierias and the long awaited return for Milos Ninkovic with Badolato taking his leave. Macarthur threw on Lachie Rose for Davila, the injured Vujica exited on the far side for Oliver Jones and Lewis departed with Ali Auglah rounded out the last sub window of the game for either side, barring any concussion injuries.
Ninkovic made the impact the Wanderers supported had all anticipated, he saw an acre of space in behind the Bulls defence, played it through for Cleur to cross to the back stick, Yuel had his marker beaten for position and his diving header slammed the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-1 and make all three points secure from a Macarthur comeback. The Bulls huffed and puffed in the dying minutes, creating some quarter-chances and earning a few set pieces but they had no answer to Marcelo's imperious defence and the 6 minutes of stoppage time passed with the Wanderers securing the win and with it 3rd place on the A-League ladder.
The Wanderers next match is against the Central Coast Mariners, in Parramatta on Saturday the 6th of January with kick-off at 5:30pm.
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