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  • Santa The Hattrick Hero

    mack

    By mack (edited)

    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.

    Edited by mack

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    EmMac

    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 .

    Could have had exactly the same funnel cut straight past the skate park thus cutting out a kilometer of frickin walking. We'd still be herded like cattle but a damn sight shorter walk than that dumbass setup from last night. Ridiculous

    Link to comment
    DanButler

    Had to record the game to watch later.

     

    One of the best performances I've seen from us this season if not the best.

     

    Nico had an off night but still some good moments.

     

    Is it just me or does Nichols often look lazy lately? Last season he seemed full of energy. He still adds a whole lot to the team and has some great moments but is he getting a bit lazy?

     

    Baccus is solid, Antonis seems to be getting even better.

     

    I can't think of a single player that actually had a bad game last night.

     

    I'm excited about finals!

    Link to comment
    MajorMelons

    Had to record the game to watch later.

    One of the best performances I've seen from us this season if not the best.

    Nico had an off night but still some good moments.

    Is it just me or does Nichols often look lazy lately? Last season he seemed full of energy. He still adds a whole lot to the team and has some great moments but is he getting a bit lazy?

    Baccus is solid, Antonis seems to be getting even better.

    I can't think of a single player that actually had a bad game last night.

    I'm excited about finals!

    Disagree on Nichols, he put in a massive amount of work closing down city, I would say he probably covered more ground than anyone else on our team. He is not as good with the ball as he was last year though

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    StringerBellend

    Had to record the game to watch later.

     

    One of the best performances I've seen from us this season if not the best.

     

    Nico had an off night but still some good moments.

     

    Is it just me or does Nichols often look lazy lately? Last season he seemed full of energy. He still adds a whole lot to the team and has some great moments but is he getting a bit lazy?

     

    Baccus is solid, Antonis seems to be getting even better.

     

    I can't think of a single player that actually had a bad game last night.

     

    I'm excited about finals!

    The NIchols might just be you. Guy runs his arse off, was everywhere again last night gives opposition no peace. But for some reason this year his finishing seems to have gone. He had two chances last night that he would have slotted last year.

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    KGee

    It was great to finally see us win in the flesh.  First time this season and I had to wait until March!

     

    And sad to say last game this season too what with the next being at ANZ so out automatically.  Will pick and choose games next year and probably go away trips up the coast instead as we drop membership for the next two years and take our chance in the Parra lottery when that's ready.

     

    Great to see us finally put in a great performance.  They all performed well bar Jumpei who just needs to go sit next to Borda and Dimas on the reject foreign bench.  

    Edited by KGee
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    tardotz

    I think the teams above us are starting to feel a bit uncomfortable now, if we keep this form going - we won't be making the numbers up in April

    Why wouldn't they, on our day we can beat anyone. We already proved it by beating the 'invincibiles' and now the FFA love child.
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    Paul01

     

    I think the teams above us are starting to feel a bit uncomfortable now, if we keep this form going - we won't be making the numbers up in April

    Why wouldn't they, on our day we can beat anyone. We already proved it by beating the 'invincibiles' and now the FFA love child.
    Gillett tried but failed to enforce the FFA memo. So few yellows for Vi$ion when there should have been 5
    Link to comment
    Potkorok

    Actually thought we were a bit average 1st half with a lot of possession given away. And thought luck was against us yet again with the deflected goal off aspro. But hey what a difference taking your chances makes!! With the exception of poor old Nichols. And then we really came home with a wet sail. Bacchus great again. Vedran fantastic. Santa what can you say?? Getting better with age.

    And yeah, whoever thought it was a good idea to squeeze the departing crowd into that narrow walkway.......bloody hell season 1 GF all over again. Muppets

    Edited by Potkorok
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    tardotz

     

    Had to record the game to watch later.

     

    One of the best performances I've seen from us this season if not the best.

     

    Nico had an off night but still some good moments.

     

    Is it just me or does Nichols often look lazy lately? Last season he seemed full of energy. He still adds a whole lot to the team and has some great moments but is he getting a bit lazy?

     

    Baccus is solid, Antonis seems to be getting even better.

     

    I can't think of a single player that actually had a bad game last night.

     

    I'm excited about finals!

    The NIchols might just be you. Guy runs his arse off, was everywhere again last night gives opposition no peace. But for some reason this year his finishing seems to have gone. He had two chances last night that he would have slotted last year.
    Have to agree he has the look of one not trying, same as Scott looks like he is about to trip in his own feet. But you cannot fault both players for effort. Mitch is involved in anything good we create.

    The only disappointing thing is that Mitch's finishing is letting him down.

    Link to comment
    btron3000

     

    I think the teams above us are starting to feel a bit uncomfortable now, if we keep this form going - we won't be making the numbers up in April

    Why wouldn't they, on our day we can beat anyone. We already proved it by beating the 'invincibiles' and now the FFA love child.

     

    We can beat anyone with our first team. After that...

    Link to comment
    TheSweeper

    Had to record the game to watch later.

    One of the best performances I've seen from us this season if not the best.

    Nico had an off night but still some good moments.

    Is it just me or does Nichols often look lazy lately? Last season he seemed full of energy. He still adds a whole lot to the team and has some great moments but is he getting a bit lazy?

    Baccus is solid, Antonis seems to be getting even better.

    I can't think of a single player that actually had a bad game last night.

    I'm excited about finals!

    Totally disagree with regards to Nichols just watch him when he doesn't have the ball both in attack and defence .I would bet his stats are number one in distance covered and also sprints .

    His pressing in the last 10 mins was also way better than the fresh sub Scott .

    Link to comment
    Unlimited

     

    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...

     

    L4H8rtq.jpg

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

     

     

    :ninja:

     

     

     

    Anyway, onto the game: WE DA BEST

     

     

    Unfortunately couldn't make it to the game so I watched a recording... but I have now put in all Wanderers games onto my calendar so an embarrassing mishap where I schedule social activities and stuff during Wanderers games don't happen again

    Link to comment
    xxBrandonxx

    It seems we are City's Bogey team. We've only lost to them three times over 5 seasons in the A-League and never at home. 

    Edited by xxBrandonxx
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    MartinTyler

    It was great to finally see us win in the flesh.  First time this season and I had to wait until March!

     

    And sad to say last game this season too what with the next being at ANZ so out automatically.  Will pick and choose games next year and probably go away trips up the coast instead as we drop membership for the next two years and take our chance in the Parra lottery when that's ready.

     

    Great to see us finally put in a great performance.  They all performed well bar Jumpei who just needs to go sit next to Borda and Dimas on the reject foreign bench.  

     

    You'll be supporting the boys up at Newcastle next Saturday though?

    Link to comment
    btron3000

    So with the sides not getting into the Poznan etc recently there was talk that the RBB were losing people due to bannergate, flares etc.

     

    I think last night's Poznan proved that the sides get into stuff when we win.

     

    It's like when people say that off-field incidents affect the crowd (in any sport). It's rubbish. What affects the crowds and their participation is love of the sport/team, the prevailing culture, quality performances, and winning.

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    GunnerWanderer

    A solid all round performance

    That team last night if they perform at their maximum for the rest of the season will do us proud.

     

    Martinez really should have scored, he's a great player but I just don't see Castro and nikovic missing thoughs, we need him take those chances comes finals time.

     

    We have to stop giving this stupid pens and free kicks around the box cause we defend with our arms!

     

    One win from our last 3 games gets us into 6

    From there see what the lottery brings I can see us winning week 1 of finals week 2 will mean esfc or victory we will need to be at our best to get through those

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    smp

    So with the sides not getting into the Poznan etc recently there was talk that the RBB were losing people due to bannergate, flares etc.

    I think last night's Poznan proved that the sides get into stuff when we win.

    It's like when people say that off-field incidents affect the crowd (in any sport). It's rubbish. What affects the crowds and their participation is love of the sport/team, the prevailing culture, quality performances, and winning.

    Poznan in the side stands was starting to die off at old Parramatta towards the end of last season. It was a thing that grew organically, and will probably always wax and wane. And that's okay with me.

     

    I've thought all season the complaints about a soulless atmosphere at Spotless was mostly related to the quality of the football on the pitch rather than the stadium itself. Sure, it's not the best for a rectangular game, but the place can get pumping once the boys give the crowd something to get excited about.

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    JackDoff

    Great win , we scored 4 goals , should've scored at least 2 more , Citeh are overrated , wish Santa was 3-4 years younger cos I'd be paying him marquee wages . Well done boyz!!! :woah:

     

     

     

     

    Ps - Butters.....learn to chip son! :P

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