Ruthless first half guides Wolves to victory over Wanderers
Wollongong Wolves showed their ruthless streak with a 4-0 win against Western Sydney Wanderers on a sweltering Sunday afternoon at Macedonia Park.
The hosts found themselves a goal up within the first minute when Alex Masciovecchio scored for the third successive game.
Raphael Le’ai then added two more goals for the side to send the Wolves into the sheds with a three-goal advantage.
Nicholas Olsen grabbed another for Wollongong after halftime to round out an emphatic victory over their opponents.
Masciovecchio’s goal less than a minute in was the first major action of the half.
An inch-perfect Olsen through-ball found the winger who kept his composure and slotted the ball past Wanderers’ goalkeeper Tristan Vidakovic.
While the Wolves had an early lead, Western Sydney were knocking the ball around confidently and were gaining territory in the hosts’ half.
This generated a chance for the team 11 minutes in when a well-worked move resulted in Nicholas Badolato blasting an effort into Oliver Yates’ gloves.
Western Sydney produced another outstanding move 10 minutes later.
Kade Baccus pulled off a neat turn in midfield and set Luka Knezevic away down the right where the wide player mazed inside and struck the apex of the goal with his effort.
However, the physicality of Wolves captain Lachlan Scott caused the visitors problems throughout the game as the home side used the forward to get up the pitch.
Scott’s physicality was the catalyst for Wollongong’s second goal in the 26th minute.
The striker tacked Awan Lual on halfway and played an incisive pass into the right channel for Le’ai to race in on goal and pass the ball into the far corner.
Western Sydney continued to test Wolves goalkeeper Yates throughout the first half, but the shot stopper repelled attempts on his goal.
The away side would be left to rue these missed chances as Le’ai added his second goal for Wollongong in first-half stoppage time.
Le’ai snatched the ball near halfway and used his pace to get into a shooting position and poke a shot past Vidakovic.
The home side went into halftime with a commanding lead.
The Wanderers made a good start to the second period, but they were dealt another blow when Wollongong scored their fourth goal.
Scott’s flick in the right of the box fell to Le’ai who forced Vidakovic into a top save, however, the ball came to Olsen’s feet centrally who placed his shot into the goal.
Western Sydney nearly responded five minutes later when Alaat Abdul-Rahman escaped in behind, rounding Yates but running the ball over the by-line.
The hosts stepped their defensive efforts and worked hard to keep their opponents out, holding on to record a 4-0 victory at home.
Wolves’ coach Warren Grieve said he was delighted with his team’s second win of the season.
“We wanted to make a statement. The last couple of weeks we’ve come up a little bit short,” Grieve said.
“Today, to keep a clean sheet and kill the game off nice and early and play our football was a credit to the team and how they’ve put themselves forward this week.
“Hopefully this now acts as a platform for us to kick on even further.”
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves FC 4 (Alex Masciovecchio 1’, Raphael Le’ai 26’ 45+1’, Nicholas Olsen 56’)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 0
Sunday 16 March 2025
Macedonia Park, Berkeley
Referee: Kelly Jones
Assistant Referees: Matt Staples Lachlan Brownscombe
Fourth Official: Harriet Gee
Wollongong Wolves FC: 1. Oliver Yates, 2. Harrison Buesnel, 4. Dylan Ryan (15. Dax Kelly 72’), 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. James Anagnostopoulos, 7. Woon Sub Sim (11. Liam Ball 90+2’), 21. Nicholas Olsen, 24. Lachlan Scott (8. Lucas Trajevski 90+2’), 25. Alex Masciovecchio (17. Marcus Beattie 67’), 29. Ben Giason, 77. Raphael Le’ai (10. Damon Gray 90+2’)
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Daniel Solsky
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 1. Tristan Vidakovic, 5. Lachlan Tilt, 8. Nicholas Badolato, 9. Alaat Abdul-Rahman, 10. Luka Knezevic (16. Johnny Pavlovic 67’), 18. Awan Lual (7. Dallo Sandy 46’), 22. Jesse Cameron, 26. Antony Barbic (36. Akol Akon 67’), 27. Julian Cop, 34. Meliwethu Nkomo (13. Thomas Cutuk 83’), 39. Kade Baccus (32. Saxon Hillyer 67’)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Lucas Sinnott
Yellow Cards: Nicholas Badolato 57’, Jesse Cameron 77’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Raphael Le’ai (WW)
2 – Lachlan Scott (WW)
1- Julian Cop (WSW)
Report by Tim Gibson
-Photo credit Pedro Garcia
