Wanderers and Wolves held to point each in tight clash
Western Sydney Wanderers and Wollongong Wolves played out a fast-paced 2-2 draw at Wanderers Football Park on Saturday night.
The relegation-threatened hosts found themselves 2-0 up by the 37th minute through Ariath Piol and Zachary Sapsford.
Alex Masciovecchio gave the Wolves some hope heading into halftime with his goal in the final exchanges of the first period.
Lachlan Scott nailed in a late penalty to get Wollongong back on level terms but there wasn’t enough time for the team to go on and find a winner.
The visitors should have been in front within a minute when Jake Trew missed the target from point-blank range.
Wollongong were left to rue that missed early chance going behind in the 16th minute.
Nathanael Blair raced in behind one-on-one with Tomas Butkovic; clipping the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper before Piol tapped it in on the line.
Western Sydney kept the pressure on almost adding a second five minutes after their first.
A scramble in the box seeing Sapsford’s effort blocked near the goalline and then George Antonis couldn’t get contact on the follow-up.
With 10 minutes to play in the first half, Wollongong thought they were back on level terms through Banri Kanaizumi but it was ruled out for offside.
The Wanderers went straight down the other end and were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box.
Sapsford stepped up and struck a deftly curling shot that came off the underside of the crossbar and bounced back up into the roof of the net.
The Wolves nearly pulled one back 43 minutes in when Nav Darjani’s half-volley from the middle of the box forced Lawrence Caruso into a superb reflex save.
However, just seconds later, the side did halve the deficit.
Masciovecchio’s left-sided cross swung all the way to inside the far post in what was an important goal for Wollongong heading into the break.
The visitors had a chance four minutes after halftime when Takumi Ofuka lined up from outside the box, although it rolled to Caruso.
Over the next minutes, both teams saw shots fly high and wide with the next goal looking likely to set the direction of the rest of the game.
Just after the hour mark, Ofuka took aim from range again, this time his powerful strike was tipped around the left post by Caruso.
In the 73rd minute, the Wanderers had the opportunity to secure the points.
Substitute Marcus Younis side-footed a first-time shot from inside the box that flashed wide of the left post.
The away side had a chance of their own three minutes later.
The ball fell at the feet of Damon Gray in the box who had the ball snatched off his foot before he could take the shot.
The Wolves kept on pushing and were awarded a penalty with eight minutes to play after Ofuka was fouled by goalkeeper Caruso in the box.
Captain Scott took responsibility and fired home into the left side of the net with Caruso going in the other direction.
With two minutes to go, Western Sydney almost snatched a late winner when Younis dragged a shot from the right of the box wide of the left post.
The momentum gained from the Wolves’ late equaliser saw the team throw everything at the Wanderers’ backline in the closing stages.
They couldn’t find the winner though with the teams having to settle for a point each.
The Wanderers would be ruing the loss of three points as they continue to fight their battle at the wrong end of the ladder while it was a tough away point for David Carney’s troops who could have escaped with all three in the end.
Match Stats
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 2 (Ariath Piol 16’, Zachary Sapsford 37’)
Wollongong Wolves FC 2 (Alex Masciovecchio 44’, Lachlan Scott 83’ penalty)
Saturday 17 June 2023
Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill
Referee: Kelly Jones
Assistant Referees: Matt Staples and Aaron Bloch
Fourth Official: James Makris
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 20. Lawrence Caruso (GK), 9. Nathanael Blair, 11. Zachary Sapsford, 12. Edmund Lupancu, 14. George Antonis (C), 22. Jesse Cameron, 23. Mason Fernandez (25. Ryley Hollingdale 68’), 26. Yannis Frerck, 27. Farah Koko (7. Marcus Younis 72’), 13. Aidan Simmons, 77. Ariath Piol (10. Alexander Badolato 72’)
Substitutes Not Used: 4. Teng Kuol, 21. Adam Bugarija, 30. Liam Loucas (GK)
Yellow Cards: Samuel Riak 37’, Nav Darjani 45’
Red Cards: Nil
Wollongong Wolves FC: 13. Tomas Butkovic (GK), 5. Barni Kanaizumi (C), 6. Senna Stevenson, 7. Marcus Beattie, 8. Samuel Riak, 9. Takumi Ofuka, 11. Nav Darjani (24. Lachlan Scott 46’), 14. Jake Trew (10. Damon Gray 60’), 21. Ethan Beavan, 23. Walter Scott, 25. Alex Masciovecchio
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Nenad Vekic (GK), 4. Dax Kelly, 12. Ryan Mrvcic, 17. Jake Lavalle
Yellow Cards: George Antonis 48’, Lawrence Caruso 82’, Zachary Sapsford 88’
Red Cards: Nil
Playing Ratings:
3 – Takumi Ofuka (WW)
2 – George Antonis (WSW)
1 – Lawrence Caruso (WSW)
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
