Manly take steps away from relegation against Wanderers

Manly United edged out Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at Wanderers Football Park to push further away from the relegation places. 

Manly were resolute defensively and found the breakthrough courtesy of Connor Rose on the hour mark – who was one of the standouts for the visitors.

Manly almost went ahead within three minutes when Rose latched onto a ball in behind and managed to get around Wanderers goalkeeper Tristan Vidackovic to the left. The forward’s touch took him wide, and he rolled the ball past the left post from a tight angle.

The Wanderers went forward soon after and forced Manly shot-stopper Levi Kaye into a crucial early double save.

In the 13th minute, Rose used his pace again, making it into the box down right, but he could only drive the ball into the side netting.

Soon after, Miguel Bauza picked out Alen Aganovic from the right-sided corner at the far post, and the defender forced Vidackovic into a sharp save.

While the visitors were creating chances, Western Sydney sought to utilise their speed on the counter and in the 19th minute, this earned them a corner. The set piece popped out to Luca Knezovic in the left of the box, and he took on a volley that bounced just wide of the near post.

Manly’s first-half pressure continued in the 37th minute when Peter Kekeris curled a free-kick towards the right post for Aganovic, whose header required a low save from Vidackovic.

United had another opportunity from a set piece in stoppage time as Jesse Piriz headed wide from a right-sided corner.

Manly had played well in the first half, with the speed of Rose and Kekeris getting them into shooting positions. They had also restricted Western Sydney to efforts from range; however, they went into the sheds level with their opponents.

Ten minutes into the second half, Rose made inroads down the right and entered the box before he fired a well-placed effort that forced Vidackovic into a top save.

Just after the hour mark, Rose was rewarded for his hard work, breaking the deadlock for Manly. A left-sided free-kick met Piriz at the back of the pack, who headed back across goal so that Rose could bravely head past an onrushing Vidackovic.

The Wanderers had a good spell in the game, starting in the 73rd minute.

A right-sided ball eventually came out to substitute Matthew O’Donogue, but the defender hit a first-time strike wide.

Seconds later, they went close again. Dallo Sandy’s in-swinging cross from the left picked out Phillip Gigliotti at the far post, whose header bounced past the right post.

After this, Manly resumed their attacking pursuit and were centimetres away from a second goal early in stoppage time. Bilal Belkadi – who had covered plenty of ground for Manly throughout the match – struck the left post from the left of the box.

Manly saw out the remaining minutes to confirm a big win in their bid for survival in the NPL Men’s NSW.

United coach Patrick Zwaanswijk said that his team played out their game plan against the Wanderers.

“We controlled the game towards the outcome. We may not have always had the possession that we needed.

“We were in a good shape. They [Western Sydney] had the ball – but more at the back. As soon as they tried to come forward and get into midfield, we were sharp, and our pressing worked well, especially on their left side.

“We had a few opportunities in the first half where we ideally should have done better.

“What we did better in the second half was we kept the second ball better… We made sure we connected the passes, and we looked dangerous.”

Zwaanswijk said he was very happy for Rose to score but wanted the attacker to find the net more consistently – reflecting Manly’s goalscoring issues across the team.

Manly have scored 25 goals in 24 games, the lowest total in the NPL Men’s NSW.

“He’s an outstanding person and a great lad. He adds a lot of energy to the team, especially with his forward runs,” Zwaanswijk said.

“He doesn’t score enough goals as a nine or as a winger.

“Most times, that’s where we’ve been struggling this season with other players, not just with Rosey, and we find it hard to score goals.”

While United’s win looks like a big result in their battle to avoid relegation, Zwannswijk, with six games to go, said he is still looking up the table towards the finals places.

Match Stats

Western Sydney Wanderers FC 0

Manly United FC 1 (Connor Rose 61’)

Sunday 14 July 2024

Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill

Referee: Craig Fisher

Assistant Referees: Amirhossein Hosnani and Thomas Dale

Fourth Official: Travis Griffith

Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 20. Tristan Vidackovic, 14. Luka Knezevic (3. Matthew O’Donoghue 54’), 16. Roman Culina, 18. Awan Lual (19. Dimo Dimo 67’), 22. Jesse Cameron, 23. Marcus Fernandez, 28. Luke Nieuwenhof, 35. Kaan Nizam (36. Dallo Sandy 54’, 37. Ricky Fransen, 77. Phillip Gigliotti, 99. Ryan Devine (4. Meliwethu Nkomo 67’)

Substitutes Not Used: 1. Lucas Sinnott, 12. Lachlan Tilt

Yellow Cards: Marcus Fernandez 43’, Ricky Fransen 86’

Red Cards: Nil

Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Kieren Paull, 4. Jesse Piriz, 7. Peter Kekeris (9. Benjamin Koop 62’), 8. Joseph Fox (6. Saxon Hillyer 62’), 11. Connor Rose (22. Blake Bamgbose 74’), 12. Miguel Bauza (85. Samuel Griffiths 74’), 18. Alen Aganovic, 25. Rocco Pelle (3. Zac Sfiligoi 62’), 39. Stefano Rossello, 45. Bilal Belkadi

Substitutes Not Used: 31. Jay Coates

Yellow Cards: Joseph Fox 51’, Samuel Griffiths 90+4’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings: 

3 – Connor Rose (MU)

2 – Bilal Belkadi (MU)

1 – Tristan Vidackovic (WSW)

Report by Tim Gibson