NWS Spirit FC grind out much needed victory over Wanderers

It was a match that NWS Spirit FC needed to win and they did just that defeating the Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 snapping a three game winless streak at Christie Park on Saturday.
Richard Darko was once again the hero for the hosts with his 26th minute wonder-strike recycled from a set piece which earned his side the three points.
For the Western Sydney Wanderers, the effort was there but they couldn’t find the back of the net, the story of their season, to grab anything from the contest. Alessandro Lopane went close twice alongside George Antonis in the second half but it was not to be for the visitors.
The first chance fell to the visitors when Marcus Younis got free in the box and looped his header over the bar in the fourth minute.
NWS Spirit FC went close to opening the scoring from a set piece. Captain Jared Lum whipped in a free-kick which Wanderers keeper Lawrence Caruso had to punch away.
Wanderers’ best chance of the half fell to Younis again. The NPL NSW Men’s ‘Human Highlight Reel’ was released with a through ball and bent his shot wide of the mark.
Darko was a livewire in the first half for NWS Spirit FC. He cut inside before he curled an effort over the bar then he crossed for Matthew Cahill to hit the base of the post.
The striker didn’t waste his second chance in front of goal. From a corner, Darko lashed the ball home from the edge of the box to make it 1-0 to the NWS Spirit FC in the 26th minute.
David Perkovic’s kept pushing forward looking for a second. Another set piece saw Kyle Shaw head straight at Caruso.
Coming out of the break, Wanderers felt just fine.
They had a chance through Lopane who tried to chip the keeper but it went wide.
Lopane was heavily involved in the Wanderers attack in the second half. He was found by a well-timed ball again and scooped it straight.
Lopane was involved again on the left with a cross that saw NWS Spirit FC custodian Christopher Marques forced into a save then the follow up hit a NWS Spirit FC defender.
The Wanderers continued to push for the equaliser.
They again worked it around the box before Younis tapped it wide of the goal from inches out.
The visitors went close again through Antonis. He showed off some tricks juggling the ball before he sliced his effort wide in the 70th minute.
NWS Spirit FC went close to a second goal. The cross came in front the left for Cahill who nodded straight at Caruso as the match headed into the final ten minutes.
The hosts went close to settling it again in the 86th minute. Substitute Luiz Lobo strode confidently into the box and fired wide of the net.
Victorious NWS Spirit FC coach David Perkovic was delighted with the result despite suffering through some of the second half:
“I think the first half, we managed the game well and tried to be aggressive against their build-up.
“Our goal came via the second phase of a set piece.
“The Wanderers are a quality team so there were periods where we knew that we had to suffer.
“We suffered well and communicated but we’ll take the win.” said Perkovic.
For Western Sydney Wanderers coach Andrew Christiansen, he reflected on the close result which saw them not find the back of the net which has been a major problem for his squad in 2023.
“I was happy overall with the performance.
“It was an improvement on the last few weeks and we created a lot of chances.
“It was another one of those games where they didn’t end up in the back of the net,” said Christiansen.
Match Stats
NWS Spirit FC 1 (Darko ’26)
Western Sydney Wanderers 0
Saturday 13 May 2023
Christie Park
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields & Lindsay Edmonds
Fourth Official: Joel Crawford
NWS Spirit FC: 1. Christopher Marques, 3. Musashi Kokubo, 4. Kota Odakura, 6. Corey Kavanagh, 7. Richard Darko, 11. Ollie Wiggin (21. Luiz Lobo ‘62), 13. Simon Nicholas, 16. Kyle Shaw, 17. Matthew Cahill, 20. Jared Lum (5. Jordan Gomez ‘76), 23. Michael Konestabo (22. Abuzar Awaz ‘31 (9. Mitchell Davidson ‘76))
Unused subs: 2. Blake Ilitch, 12. Jacob Madden
Yellow cards: Wiggin ‘14
Red cards:
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1. Lawrence Caruso, 2. Matthew O’Donoghue, 4. Alex Bonetig, 7. Jared Carluccio, 8. Alessandro Lopane, 10. Alexander Badolato (22. Jesse Cameron ‘86), 13. Marcus Younis, 14. George Antonis (29. Edmun Haddad ‘83), 23. Mason Fernandez (9. Nathanael Blair ‘76), 24. Teng Kuol, 31. Aidan Simmons
Unused subs: 3. Liam Bonetig, 6. Franz Deli, 20. William Loucas
Yellow cards: Antonis ‘33
Red cards:
Player Ratings:
3: Richard Darko (NWS)
2: Simon Nicholas (NWS)
1: Alessandro Lopane (WSW)
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)