Iacopo La Rocca has smashed home a 15th minute goal and not even the loss of Youssouf Hersi to a straight red before half-time could stop the Wanderers smash and grab raid across the Nullarbor Plain as stoic defence kept the Glory at bay.
La Rocca rose at the far post when Aaron Mooy retrieved a wayward corner to whip the ball back into the mixer. The Italian defender was the only player in the box to attack the ball and he was rewarded with just his sixth ever league goal. Youssouf Hersi received the first ever red card to a Wanderers player for his 'retaliation' after being cut down from behind by Scott Jamieson, the referee adjudging Hersi to have lashed out at Jamieson with his feet.
The first 10 minutes of the match weren't particularly inspiring. Fouls all over the pitch were awarded by whistle happy referee Kris Griffiths-Jones against Hersi, La Rocca, Jamieson & Polenz and Glory striker Billy Mehmet was caught offside. The first shot of the match came from Liam Miller when he turned 360 degrees and struck a fierce drive from outside the box that was blocked by his own team-mate Mehmet. Aaron Mooy responded in kind when he weaved his way past central defender Bas Van Den Brink, followed by faking several shots on his opponent Thwaite then pulling the trigger. Thwaite was unmoved by the trickery and blocked it for a corner. The corner was taken to the far post but drifted over Topor-Stanley. Mooy retrieved the ball and floated the ball back into the near post. La Rocca attacked the cross, climbing above the static Perth defenders to smash it into the side netting from 4 yards out.
Perth were stung into action by conceding and Liam Miller unleashed a long range thunderbolt that had Ante Covic tipping over the bar by the fingertip. Bridge opened up the pitch when he cut inside from a throw-in flick on, beat his defender and had Hersi free. He ignored the flying Dutchman and took on a long shot which flew high and off target.
At the half-time break Jason Trifiro was sacrificed for Shannon Cole in a tactical reshuffle that saw Cole move out onto the wing. Trifiro was playing in central midfield and with La Rocca and Mooy also on the pitch Tony Popovic decided to change to a 4-4-1 formation, playing with two banks of four defenders and Dino Kresinger as the target man up front.
The scene was set for second half siege. Adrian Zahra attempted a shot on a tight angle, the ball curve along the face of the goal and Mehmet was too far away to make a run. Mooy lost possession in his own half and Ward nabbed the ball, taking a long range low drive that Covic held easily. Mark Bridge had a great chance for the Wanderers on 55 minutes, Cole with a mazy run on the edge of the Glory box before finding D'Apuzzo who chipped it toward the centre of the 18 yard box. Bridge turned and dispatched a left footed volley that had Vukovic diving to his left to make the save. When the referee failed to give a foul for a blatant trip on Cole, Steven McGarry ran onto the loose ball and fired a shot from 25 yards. It skimmed along the turf before clattering into the far post.
Ante Covic had arguably the save of the game in the 64th minute, as Billy Mehmet turned his marker and attempted to bend a shot into the far corner. Covic went horizontal to make the one-handed save. Nick Ward was the next to try his luck and his shot didn't beat the first man. The hero of the night La Rocca earned a rest on 70 minutes with Joey Gibbs coming on as his replacement. Jamieson had two shots on target as time started to tick away, the first a free kick he sent wide and a volley off a corner blocked by Polenz.
Post-Game and Analysis: Tony Popovic was delighted with the effort and quality his charges had shown throughout the match, but was less impressed with the quality of the officiating. The Wanderers conceded several baffling cards late in the game for alleged time wasting, including one where the ball was rolling to Ante Covic and was nearly in the keepers hands after a foul, and the referee gave Topor-Stanley a yellow for turning around to head up the pitch in anticipation of the free kick.
Tactically the Wanderers attack was superb early in the match when the attack built from the defence to the midfield to the wings. Trifiro, Mooy and La Rocca combined very well for a trio unfamiliar at least in game day situations, Bridge and Hersi were both dangerous. The loss of Hersi will be a blow to the chances of a Wanderers win against the Victory, perhaps Haliti or Tahj Minniecon will take that position.
Dino Kresinger was poor yet again. Off the pace, unable to hold the ball when delivered to chest, head or feet, Tony Popovic has surely run out of patience with the big man and he must spend some time in the Youth League until he can regain a semblance of whatever it was that lead Popovic to sign him in the first place. Gibbs was again far more threatening as the lone striker and at times with Dino up front it was like playing with 9 men and not just 10. While I will support the players on the pitch and for their effort, there comes a time when truths must be spoken in a tactical sense and this is one of them. Western Sydney play much worse when we have Dino up front. He may yet play a role but right now he is not good enough. The rest of the team deserve more from their front man.
Defensively the Wanderers were outstanding. Covic had his best game for the Wanderers. Topor-Stanley was not caught out trying to leave balls and his position along with Beauchamp was top quality. D'Apuzzo put in work at both ends of the pitch and Polenz was rock-solid as usual. This back 5 is one of the best in the competition as it stands and if the attack continues to gel and combine the Wanderers will have no trouble making the finals.
This match has shown the league that the Wanderers can go far in this competition, fearing no man or team we face. The players have heart, determination and pride in the shirt. The culture and mentality that is being developed by Popovic and his coaching staff is one that resonates with the people in our city and is one that will bring results to the club as long as that fight, desire and philosophy is not lost in the future.
The Wanderers next match is against Melbourne Victory at Parramatta Stadium on the 24th of November at 7:45pm Eastern Daylight Savings Time.
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