Wanderers defeat Olympic in five-goal thriller
Western Sydney Wanderers have claimed all three points in a blistering match against Sydney Olympic at Wanderers Football Park in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition with the hosts running out 3-2 victors.
The Wanderers piled on the pressure early, and in the 4th minute rattled the cross bar off an inswinging corner.
The home side sustained their intensity, as Jarrod Carluccio guided a free header inside the box wide of the post after a good cross from Teng Kuol.
A minute later, Kuol was the creator once again, as a deft guided touch released the onrushing George Antonis in behind, but the central midfielder couldn’t beat the goalkeeper with his effort.
The Wanderers found a deserved opener in the 13th minute with a beautiful, sweeping attacking move.
Antonis switched the play to find Jesse Cameron, who then combined with Marcus Younis.
A cross in from Cameron found Ariath Piol in the box, who brought the ball down well under pressure, before laying it off to Carluccio who unleashed a powerful shot into the roof of the net to give the Wanderers the advantage.
Sydney Olympic began to work their way into the match, but in the 31st minute, the Wanderers doubled their lead with a clinical counterattack.
Receiving the ball, Younis drove directly at a backtracking Sydney Olympic defence, and then slid through Piol, who finished clinically with a near post effort.
Two minutes later, Sydney Olympic halved the deficit, with Adam Parkhouse converting with a driven effort into the far-right corner after latching onto a loose ball just outside the box.
Sydney Olympic almost went level, as a shot from substitute Sam Mcillhatton off a short corner was parried into the path of Roy O’Donovan, but the former A-League Men’s striker was offside, with the follow up effort nevertheless being saved well by Lawrence Caruso.
However, the away side had upped the intensity, and found their equaliser in the 40th minute.
Parkhouse took on his marker well down the left and went round the outside before whipping a well-placed cross into the back post.
O’Donovan leaped and headed the ball into the back of the net to complete a stunning first half comeback.
Drama unfolded soon after however as Sydney Olympic were reduced to ten-men as defender Michael Neill was sent off after being drawn in by a good touch from Piol, who also won the foul for the first yellow.
The Wanderers created multiple opportunities to go ahead in the first twenty minutes of the second half with the man advantage, but Sydney Olympic defended well for the most part, with Nicholas Sorras making some sharp saves when necessary.
In the 67th minute, off a short corner, Daniel Wilmering cut in and unleashed a good effort, but Sorras was quick to parry the ball clear.
The Wanderers found the lead three minutes later, as two substitutes combined to find the back of the net.
Carluccio picked up the ball in a pocket of space and played Younis on the right, who quickly laid it off to Zachary Sapsford.
The forward played a pinpoint cross to find Nathanael Blair at the far post, who converted well in free space to give Wanderers the advantage against 10 men.
Sydney Olympic were inches away from finding an equaliser in the 82nd minute, as O’Donovan rattled the frame of the goal from the back post after a good ball from Jakob Cresnar.
The away side had another chance four minutes later, but Oliver Puflett couldn’t convert a volley after a nice, direct sequences of play – as the referee blew full-time with the Wanderers rejoicing inflicting Olympic it’s third successive loss for season 2023.
Western Sydney Wanderers head coach Andrew Christiansen was proud of his side learnt throughout the match, with the three points important on the back of four losses in a row.
“It was a fantastic result and an excellent result.
“It was pleasing to see us continue to progress and step up which is all we ask of these young men.
“They need to learn the game and get exposed to fantastic opposition like Sydney Olympic, and I’m really happy for and proud of the boys for a deserved result.”
Meanwhile, Sydney Olympic coach Labinot Haliti was happy with his sides performance considering being down a man for a half, but stated his displeasure at the final result.
“The game showed the quality we have.
“It is what it is at the moment and a few things aren’t going our way, but you can see there’s quality and ability in the side.
“Results at the moment aren’t there but we will keep working and stay humble.”
Match Stats
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 3 (Carluccio 13’, Piol 31’, Blair 70’)
Sydney Olympic FC 2 (Parkhouse 33’, O’Donovan 40’)
Saturday 11 March, 2023
Wanderers Football Park
Referee: Kelly Jones
Assistant Referees: Amirhossein Hosnani and Melik Ibrahim
Fourth Official: Sophie Allum
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 1. Lawrence Caruso, 4. Alex Bonetig, 5. Daniel Wilmering, 6. Frans Deli, 7. Marcus Younis, 8. Jarrod Carluccio, 12. Edmond Lupancu (3. Liam Bonetig 56’), 14. George Antonis (C), 22. Jesse Cameron, 24. Teng Kuol (11. Zachary Sapsford 63’), 77. Ariath Piol (9. Nathantial Blair 63’)
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Matthew O’Donoghue, 23. Mason Fernandez, 30. William Loucas
Yellow Cards: Blair 64’, Cameron 88’, Younis 90’
Red Cards: N/A
Sydney Olympic FC: 1. Nicholas Sorras, 4. Benjamin van Meurs, 5. Zygmunt Gordon (C) (3. Michael Neill 32’), 6. Jack Simmons (8. Sam Mcillhatton 32’), 10. Darcy Burgess (9. Oliver Puflett 69’), 11. Adam Parkhouse, 12. Matthew Buettner, 14. James Georgaklis (7. William Angel 45’), 23. Jakob Cresnar, 29. Nick Fitzgerald (22. Fabio Ferreira 69’), 99. Roy O’Donovan
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Christopher Parsons
Yellow Cards: Georgaklis 19’, Neill 45’, Fitzgerald 45’
Red Cards: Neill 45’
Player ratings
3 – Jarrod Carluccio (WSW)
2 – Ariath Piol (WSW)
1 – Adam Parkhouse (SO)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
