Wanderers outgun Hills
Western Sydney Wanderers continued their good start to the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition with a 2-1 victory over competition new boys Hills United at Landen Stadium on Saturday.
The Wanderers scored either side of half time through Awan Lual and Adam Bugarija before holding the hosts to the one goal at the other end which came through Yu Okubo.
After a positive start from the hosts with a couple of early entries into the opposing box, it was at the other end the first goal came.
Lual was on the spot inside the six-yard box to bundle the ball home, 13 minutes in. Aydan Hammond was the architect setting up the goal after zig zagging past his defender on the left wing.
Zac Sapsford then went close to making it two, hitting the side netting in the 25th minute after a piercing ball through the Hills defence.
Sapsford once again played a role in the Wanderers’ next chance of the half, his ball finding Lual who hit the crossbar from close range.
Hills’ best chance of the half came in the 35th minute, Caleb Jackson-Brown interchanging passes with Sunday Yona, but the attacker failed to get a shot off in time before Lucas Sinnott did well to claim the ball.
The hosts had the first chance of the second half with Yona drawing an early save from the keeper.
Wanderers then made it 2-0 in the 50th minute.
A neat ball fell to Adam Bugarija at the top of the area who made no mistake with a confident finish.
Sapsford nearly scored the club’s third with an effort in the 57th minute, his shot rolling left of the target.
It took till the 80th minute for the hosts to have a dangerous effort and they were rewarded with their first. Japanese ace Yu Okubo finished strongtly from a central position inside the box after a neat Thomas Lopez cross from the right.
Hills almost snatched a point at the death but were thwarted thanks to a wonderful last gasp save by Sinnott who tipped the ball to the right for a corner parrying Jamal Belkadi’s effort.
Post game Western Sydney Wanderers coach Andrew Christiansen was proud of his side’s effort.
“I was really proud of the effort of the boys tonight.
“It was a different challenge compared to last week but I was really pleased with the fight from the boys while showing our quality.
“Our boys are learning quick including Awan tonight. His a fantastic talent and one too look out for this season.”
Hills United coach Luke Casserly looked back on his sides lack of efficiency in the final third.
“We’ve just come into the competition and we know it’s going to be a challenge every week but I think we’ve shown we’re up for it in these two games.
“We were really well organized and structured in the first half and had a lot of ball in good areas but it took to the 80th minute to get a shot on goal which ended up costing us.”
Match Stats
Hills United 1 (Okubo 80’)
Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Lual 13’, Bugarija 51’)
Saturday 24th February, 2024
Landen Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Sebastian Andrews
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harris & Alexis Johnson
Fourth Official: Mitchell Renton
Hills United: 1 Ryan Wood (GK), 4. Brian Jamba, 6. Issac Hovar (18. Mitchell Smith 78’), 8. Eoin Montford, 9. Yu Okubo, 13. Cam Philp (97. Thomas Lopez 53’), 15. Noah Casserly (2. Rainer Smahel 53’), 17. Caleb Jackson-Brown, 19. Glen Kelshaw (C), 24. Sunday Yona (11. Anthony Frangie 53’), 26. Tommy Makko (10. Jamal Belkadi 66’).
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Emlyn Cross (GK), 2. Rainer Smahel, 10. Jamal Belkadi, 11. Anthony Frangie, 18. Mitchell Smith, 21. Emlyn Cross, 97. Thomas Lopez
Yellow Cards: Jackson-Brown 53’, Montford 64’
Red Cards: Nil
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Lucas Sinnott, 2. Nathan Barrie, 3. Anthony Pantazopoulos (99. Ryan Devine 74’), 4. Doni Grdic, 11. Adam Bugarija (24. Antony Barbic 83’), 12. Zachary Sapsford, 13. Aydan Hammond, 18. Awan Lual (77. Phillip Gigliotti 85’), 22. Jesse Cameron, 23. Marcus Fernandez, 25. Ryley Hollingdale.
Substitutes Not Used: 16. Roman Culina, 19. Dimo Dimo, 24. Antony Barbic, 30. Marcus Petrovski, 77. Phillip Gigliotti, 99. Ryan Devine.
Yellow Cards: Hammond 92’, Sapsford 92’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3- Awan Lual (WSW)
2- Zac Sapsford (WSW)
1- Yu Okubo (HU)
By Justin Smith
