Western Sydney Wanderers returned to the top of the table with a 2-1 win over the Central Coast Mariners after Brendon Santalab scored an 88th-minute winner.
The visitors got off to the perfect start with a goal after just 11 minutes when Storm Roux’s errant backpass set up Mark Bridge for his sixth goal of the season. However, despite enjoying the majority of possession and creating good chances, Tony Popovic’s side failed to add to their lead before the break.
The Mariners, who had finished the first half strongly, came out with renewed vigour in the second period and equalised through Fabio Ferreira in the 68th minute after good work from marquee man Luis Garcia and Mitch Austin.
Hopes of an upset were short-lived though as Nick Montgomery got himself sent off for the home side in the 79th minute for a studs-up challenge on Golgol Mebrahtu. From there, the pressure was back on the Mariners, and they buckled in the closing stages to concede a winner from Brendon Santalab.
Starting lineups and formations
Tony Walmsley made five changes from the side that started against Adelaide last Sunday, showing a clear intent to try and take the game to their opponents. Francesco Stella started in the playmaker role behind debutant striker Matthew Fletcher, often looking to push into the channels and link up with his striker.
The Wanderers were forced into their single change from the Sydney Derby, with Jonathan Aspropotatmitis replacing Nikolai Topor-Stanley. The front three of Bridge, Castelen and Vidosic drifted across the front line, looking to escape their markers long enough to make an impact. Fullbacks Scott Neville and Scott Jamieson looked to push forward and provide overloads on the flanks.
Defensive pressure creates goals
Make no mistake, Storm Roux was culpable for the opening goal of the game with a poor backpass, and Michael Neill produced a similarly shocking effort in the dying minutes to turn over the ball for Brendon Santalab’s winner.
Both situations were remarkably similar too, with the fullbacks being caught deep in their half and surrounded by Wanderers players that cut off passing options. Roux and Neill then cracked under this defensive pressure, serving up two golden chances that the visitors took with ease.
While the defenders were no doubt at fault for the turnover, credit must be given to the Wanderers for pressuring the ball in such an organized fashion to force the mistakes.
Fullbacks cause problems for Mariners
Mitch Austin and Fabio Ferreira are Tony Walmsley’s two greatest attacking weapons, but at times, they can pose an enormous liability in defence. In the opening stages of the match, Wanderers fullbacks Scott Jamieson and Scott Neville often travelling well up the sideline to support attacks without any defensive pressure from Ferreira and Austin. Jamieson, in particular, was dangerous in the final third, with two of his crosses leading to good scoring opportunities for his side.
Robust midfield rebalances match
No doubt that Western Sydney were the dominant side in the first half, but the visitors found a much sterner test in the second stanza until Montgomery’s sending off in the closing stages. Liam Rose and Nick Montgomery placed greater pressure on the Wanderers midfield, and Jacob Poscoliero often pushed out of defence to shut down Mitch Nichols before he could turn and face the Mariners’ goal.
This consistent disruption of the Wanderer’s possession game created numerous counter-attacking chances for the home side through the likes of Austin and Ferreira, forcing fullbacks Neville and Jamieson to sit deeper and fail to support attacks in the second half.
Central Coast Mariners Conclusion
Once again it was a performance of patches for Tony Walmsley’s side, with promising spells firmly undone by maddening mistakes from his fullbacks before the two goals they conceded. Nick Montgomery’s brain explosion will no doubt be a piece of frustration, but that will be balanced by the impressive cameo from marquee man Luis Garcia, who produced a wonderful pass to set up his side’s goal. If the Mariners can eliminate the individual mistakes and brain snaps from their game, there is enough talent in this squad to get off the bottom of the table.
Western Sydney Wanderers Conclusion
After suffering back-to-back defeats against Melbourne City and Sydney FC, this was a welcome return to the winners’ circle for the Wanderers. However, against a more experienced side, this was certainly another match they could have lost – the likes of Castelen and Vidosic need to start finding the net more consistently to take the burden off of Bridge and Nichols.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
