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  • Farcical CWC Debut For Wanderers

    mack

    By mack

    The Western Sydney Wanderers were two minutes away from facing Real Madrid but two red cards, two penalties and three goals from Cruz Azul saw the hopes of the dream fixture dashed.

     

    On four occasions clubs from Australia have entered the Club World Cup hoping to face the giants of world football. South Melbourne did so against Vasco da Gama, Necaxa & Manchester United as a result of the format of the competition in the year 2000 involving a group stage, while Sydney FC & Adelaide United crashed out with losses in the quarter finals with Liverpool & Manchester United of England respectively beckoning in the semi-finals.

     

    The Western Sydney Wanderers were hoping to become the first Australian side to advance to the semi-final but were undone by Cruz Azul of Mexico in a frantic and farcical encounter. Conditions in Rabat were non-stop lashing rain, with the pitch pooled into oceans of water that looked more suitable for Vasco da Gama the Portugese explorer rather than his namesake club from Brazil.

     

    Labinot Haliti should have been awarded the opening goal of the game, having bundled the ball over the line only to see it disallowed. Replays showed on clear reason for the decision and it was the start of several baffling decisions from the officials on the night.

     

    The soggy deadlock was broken in the 65th minute. Seyi Adeleke lobbed a cross into the box that was half-cleared by the Mexicans, only as far as Iacopo La Rocca who blasted a shot that skidded off the wet surfaced and nestled into the bottom corner. Holding on in the tough conditions was made even harder by the sending off of Matthew Spiranovic for a second yellow after a handball. The resulting free kick was smashed in but a finger tip save from Ante Covic kept the Wanderers in front.

     

    The 88th minute saw the game swing the way of the Mexicans. A hopeful ball up front was deflected by a Wanderer into the path of Marco Fabian. Shannon Cole came in to defend and his attempt at a clearance was foiled by the waterloged pitch and he was adjuged to have fouled Fabian. Gerardo Torrado stepped up from the spot and sent Covic the wrong way, sending the match into extra time.

     

    The clock ticked over to 101 minutes as the Wanderers lost the second of their starting central defensive pairing. In this instance Nikolai Topor-Stanley had been booked earlier in the match for a foul made by Adeleke in a case of mistaken identity, and was given a second yellow for preventing one of the Cruz Azul attackers from getting in behind the defence.

     

    Azul took the lead for the first time as Pavone tapped home from a wonderful first up save by Covic, the second shot from Pavone at point blank was one no keeper in the world could have kept out.

     

    The dreams of playing Madrid were gone in the 119th minute as the referee gave another penalty, Polajk sliding in to prevent a cross had the ball hit his hand and it was declared deliberate. Torrado finished low and centrally and shortly after the referee managed to do something right and blew his whistle to end what was an agonising match to watch for everyone associated with the Wanderers.

     

    Cruz Azul now go onto the Semi-Finals against Real Madrid, while the other semi-final sees Auckland City take on San Lorenzo.

     

    The Wanderers will take on ES Setif of Algeria in the 5th place playoff at 3:30am on Thursday the 18th of December.

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    Davo

    Spira's second yellow was for handball and it definitely was yellow. His first yellow was harsh but the second was the correct decision.

     

    As for the Nikolai Topor-Adeleke yellow, it looked to me like Spira got some ball in his tackle and Seyi got the player. The ref was right to award a foul and right not to give a red card because Spira had already knocked the ball away so it wasn't a goal scoring opportunity when he was fouled. After he blew the whistle he looked away (I think it was to wave away a Cruz Azul player asking for a red), as he was looking away Seyi ran away to get into position and NTS went and stood exactly where Seyi was originally. When the referee looked up he saw NTS in that position and whipped out the card.

     

    Add that to scrubbing out Haliti's goal for the phantom foul and having his eyes shut when Ruka was dragged down in the box.

     

    Very disappointed because we seemed to adapt to the conditions better than they did and a two goal lead on that pitch would have probably been enough.

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    EmMac

    Spira's second yellow was for handball and it definitely was yellow. His first yellow was harsh but the second was the correct decision.

     

    As for the Nikolai Topor-Adeleke yellow, it looked to me like Spira got some ball in his tackle and Seyi got the player. The ref was right to award a foul and right not to give a red card because Spira had already knocked the ball away so it wasn't a goal scoring opportunity when he was fouled. After he blew the whistle he looked away (I think it was to wave away a Cruz Azul player asking for a red), as he was looking away Seyi ran away to get into position and NTS went and stood exactly where Seyi was originally. When the referee looked up he saw NTS in that position and whipped out the card.

     

    Add that to scrubbing out Haliti's goal for the phantom foul and having his eyes shut when Ruka was dragged down in the box.

     

    Very disappointed because we seemed to adapt to the conditions better than they did and a two goal lead on that pitch would have probably been enough.

    Thanks for clarifying Spira's yellows.

     

    Yeah, I thought we were playing well in those ridiculous conditions with ridiculous refereeing. Gutted we couldn't close out the match in

    90 minutes. We were so freakin' close to winning. 

    Link to comment
    JonWanderer

    Watching it live I was glad that the weather evened it up but now looking back on it, I would have preferred good conditions so that we could have seen how well we can or can't play against a quality team from outside of Asia.

     

    Any bets on when will be the next time we are a couple of minutes away from playing Real Madrid !!

     

    Shannon Cole is Wanderers through and through and has scored many match winners for us. Go Shannon.

    Link to comment
    Prydzopolis

    A few points:

    - I think the only reason why the game went ahead was because of FIFA & scheduling because I'm sure the referee would have postponed the match if he had a choice. If this was supposed to be a show piece event

    - The officiating was horrendous, but you can't control this no matter how hard you try & identify the mistakes made. I also think he needed to give more leniency to tackles because of the run of the ball and players losing footing in the puddles. That was really an amateur decision to be so strict on tackles from a supposed "world class" referee as if he has never refereed or played in those conditions before let alone to let the game go ahead. That was not taking into account the mistaken identity (NTS and Adeleke look so similar so they must be the same :nono:), the phantom fouls, simple offsides getting them wrong, lack of consistency in awarding fouls/cards (some handballs yellows, others not) and just the general decision making from a world class referee. I know it was tough out there for the referee in these conditions but at a show piece event, you expect better.

    - The NTS yellow card for the Spira foul was legitimate but the foul was correct, Adeleke got the ball but Spira chopped him. How NTS got the card I'll never know!

    - Spira yellow was tough, the ball's trajectory was going everywhere, the ball hit his hand but he didn't move his hand towards the path of the ball. He should have given a few more yellows if spira's was a yellow

    - I think WSW didn't adapt to the conditions better, but it was the fact that there counter attacking game was more suited to the conditions than the short passing game of CA. WSW changed there game too by not passing around the backline and using the longer ball on more occasions that they would have but they had less to change, CA changing there game to long balls or clearing it would be completely foreign to there style. To tell you the truth I'm not sure what would have happened if the game was played in normal conditions just because the rain changed the whole complex of the game.

    - You can't say one team dominated the other or outplayed the other, in a game like this you just hope to avoid letting in silly goals or mistakes. In fact the first half and second half was pretty even, yes WSW had better chances in the first half but Crul Azul's best opportunity when they hoofed it long behind the back line and letting the lottery of puddles decide the outcome of foul. After the goal, WSW were always going to sit deep and soak up the pressure, it's just the way we play.

    - on WSW performance, you can't fault the boys, they gave 100% on the pitch, played the best they could have in the atrocious conditions. It was just unfortunate that we conceeded in the 89th minute, I don't think we should be concerned by this being a trend but when you're sitting deep soaking up pressure, you need a bit of luck on our side to get through the match. Fantastic effort, did the best they could in the conditions. Playing in terrible conditions was always going to be a challenge, then scoring a goal against a technical superior team sitting deep was going to be tough, going down to 10 men was going to be nerve wrecking ending but ending the match with nine men with 30 minutes of extra time was going to need a miracle!

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    Bob

    CA played with much more class, in matters of sportsmanship, than those we faced in the ACL. While it sucked to lose so close to the end, there's nothing to hate about CA, they played the whistle and got the win without a heap of dirty tactics. Good luck to them in the next match, someone had to make the fairytale game and we missed out. Let's hope the players just get better from this experience and we are able to get amongst it in the A-League and show we deserved to be where we were.

    Edited by Bob
    Link to comment
    beatsurrender

    Yep, adventure over. What a wild ride!  Time to knuckle down and win every A-league game before the 3 week break for the Asian Cup. We'll then be at least in 6th and looking forward to a little break. Coming back from that we should be raring to go and as Popa says in our best physical condition for the rest of the HAL season and group stages of the ACL. Exciting times.

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    Horus

    A debacle, total shambles - both our boys and CA deserved a better opportunity to compete, but I will say before Spira was sent, we weren't being overun even tho CA came out firing in the 2nd half.

     

    I feel for Shannon, i thought it was the conditions that caused the "penalty" - it certainly wasn't as bad as the penalty shout that was waved away on Nikita in the first half...and that legit goal to Labino - sigh...but credit to Cruz Azul for the way they played - there are cashed up Asian/Saudi teams that could learn to play in their spirit

    Edited by Horus
    Link to comment
    Nnnnnathan12

    Maybe we should've boycotted anyway lol,

    But for FIFA to force the players to play in that is a farking joke.
    How often do people have to bend over for this money hungry organisation that only sole focus is fill their own pockets with cash instead of working to improve the sport of football

    Link to comment
    SBW

    From the Daily Mail

     

     

    • Cruz Azul 3-1 Western Sydney Wanderers (AET): Gerardo Torrado spot on at rain soaked World Club Cup as Mexicans set up semi-final date with Real Madrid
    • Cruz Azul defeated WS Wanderers in extra-time at the World Club Cup
    • Gerardo Torrado scored penalties in final minutes of normal time and extra time to set up a semi-final with Real Madrid
    • The Wanderers finished the game with nine men after Matthew Spiranovic and Nikolai Topor-Stanle were sent off 
    • Iacopo La Rocca opened the scoring for the Australians while Mariano Pavone netted the other goal for CONCACAF Champions League winners 
    Western Sydney Wanderers' stunning year ended on a waterlogged pitch and with a rash of red cards as they let a late lead slip to lose 3-1 after extra time to Mexican side Cruz Azul in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup on Saturday.
     
    2408E29100000578-0-image-a-100_141850776
     
    Wanderers, who finished the game with nine men, were two minutes from a dream semi-final meeting with Real Madrid after a long-range strike from Iacopo La Rocca had given them a second-half lead.
     
    2408F91500000578-2872959-Mariano_Pavone_
     
    But Gerardo Torrado equalised with a penalty for Cruz Azul and then converted a second spot-kick in extra time, either side of a goal from forward Mariano Pavone. 
     
    Wanderers, who defied the odds to overcome much wealthier Asian powerhouses and win the continent's Champions League in November, lost Matthew Spiranovic to a second bookable offence 16 minutes from the end of normal time.
     
    They were then dealt a further blow when captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley followed him off the pitch in extra time.
     
    Cruz Azul play Real in their semi-final in Rabat on Tuesday, while Wanderers play off for fifth place with African champions ES Setif a day later in Marrakesh.
     
    24083F2B00000578-0-image-a-106_141850794
     
    2408C5DE00000578-0-image-m-96_1418507583
     
    Link to comment
    Makedonche

    Disappointed but proud, the lads gave it their all.

     

    I was pretty shitty at Cole when he gave away the pen, but I forgive him. Looking at it again he was pretty unlucky and I reckon it was a soft one to give.

    Edited by Makedonche
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    Nnnnnathan12

    Fifa wants this game to be forgotten as quickly as possible. No mention of a disallowed goal, a not given penalty, a mix up with yellow cards and a p1ss poor ref on the FIFA web site.

    FIFA? cover something up?

     

    No they would never do that, how dare you suggest such a thing  :ninja:

    Link to comment
    stavup

    What a courageous effort from a small team from Western Sydney today, playing in atrocious conditions, against a formidable opponent in Cruz Azul from Mexico..Leading up until the 89th minute, to only be devastated with an unfortunate penalty, that came from fate rather than malice, a penalty none the less..we stood and we fell together...What a proud moment, no team from Australia has ever achieved what we have..My daughter was at the game in Morocco with her boyfriend, to their committed passion and our clubs determined attitude I salute you all, and thank you for the WANDERFUL journey we have all taken together. 

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    WhoDoWeSingFor

    What a courageous effort from a small team from Western Sydney today, playing in atrocious conditions, against a formidable opponent in Cruz Azul from Mexico..Leading up until the 89th minute, to only be devastated with an unfortunate penalty, that came from fate rather than malice, a penalty none the less..we stood and we fell together...What a proud moment, no team from Australia has ever achieved what we have..My daughter was at the game in Morocco with her boyfriend, to their committed passion and our clubs determined attitude I salute you all, and thank you for the WANDERFUL journey we have all taken together. 

     

    Will be good to hear how they went mate.

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    • Popular Comment
    stavup
    • Popular Comment

    Look what this idiot puts on Shannon Cole`s Facebook page..

     

    Jason Cuevas

     

    Stop mentoring and ******* learn how to ****in tackle you MUPPET!!

     

    and this

     

    Shannon Cole you piece of ******* **** **** off!!!

     

    Seriously..what a prick...

     

    This was my post of Shannon s FB page..and many were the same..

     

    Shannon, hold your head high mate, did us proud..that ball just moved at the last moment, your tackle was good..you are a champion always..

    Link to comment
    wswtragic

    It's not quite over yet, we still have to play ES Setif for 5th spot.

    Auckland City beat them.

    Do people care about this game??

     

    Yes - the young guys will get invaluable experience playing at this level - we deserve more, but be proud of what the guys did, and how they put the North American champions through 89 minutes of angst - I'm also sick of everyone saying how we can't complain because we got the rub in the ACL - the referee here was crap and actively the difference between us winning and losing - not like the ACL where Al Hilal were riding for a penalty to stay in it. Popa is fully entitled to blow up, and did a great job of keeping his cool. Ante, on the other hand, said what everyone wanted to say ...

    Link to comment
    stavup

    I posted this in response to the attacks on Shannon s FB page.

     

    What a dick head...the ball moved at the last second....not Shannon s fault..keep your crap in your empty head, you are the muppet ..FC nob obviously

     

     

    Jason Cuevas RESPONSE

     

    FC nob haha look at my profile pic you numpty!! Never should of even tried to make that tackle. Now if you knew the game then you might be able to work out what I was talking about! Pratt!!!

     

    My response..

     

     I sent you a message to you cock...what a thing to say.. Think what ever you want to yourself..but **** off with posting on his FB page Muppet..The ball shifted at the last moment, Shannon was committed to the tackle...Cant blame him for that..he will blame himself enough..you do not belong in the Red & Black..

     

    I cannot believe that people will do this crap...**** ME...

    Link to comment
    West13

     

     

    It's not quite over yet, we still have to play ES Setif for 5th spot.

    Auckland City beat them.

    Do people care about this game??

    Yes - the young guys will get invaluable experience playing at this level - we deserve more, but be proud of what the guys did, and how they put the North American champions through 89 minutes of angst - I'm also sick of everyone saying how we can't complain because we got the rub in the ACL - the referee here was crap and actively the difference between us winning and losing - not like the ACL where Al Hilal were riding for a penalty to stay in it. Popa is fully entitled to blow up, and did a great job of keeping his cool. Ante, on the other hand, said what everyone wanted to say ...

    The people bringing up the ACL are just jealous haters that will always talk ****. If we are going down that path the ACL was our pay back for the rubbish we copped in our grand finals, and the week in week out dirt a-league refs dish up.

    Last night's ref was just inept. Utter ****.

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    Makedonche

    Any one that gives a crap need to send this prick a message..

    Jason Cuevas

     

    COCK of the highest order...

    Some people have no idea. Yes perhaps Shannon was a bit at fault, but **** happens and its not like he purposely meant for it to happen. 

     

    Some very negative people out there... 

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