Wanderers return to the winners circle with solid win over Manly

The Western Sydney Wanderers secured a valuable three points with a 2-0 defeat of Manly United FC at Wanderers Football Park on Saturday afternoon.

The 16th-placed Wanderers weren’t expected to be the favourites in the match, coming up against third-placed Manly United, however they confidently broke ahead before the half-time break through Julian Cop and put a nail in the coffin in the 84th minute through Aidan Simmons.

The victory is the Wanderers second of 2025 and sees them jump off the bottom of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s ladder.

A counter attack gave Wanderers a chance in the 15th minute as Edmun Haddad sent the ball to Alaat Abdul-Rahman, but the attacker couldn’t steer the ball to the target.

The hosts had another chance in the 25th minute as Cop sent a shot towards the target, but Manly goalkeeper Levi Kaye comfortably denied.

Manly United created a promising opportunity in the 38th minute as Darcy Burgess sent an impressive cross into Lucas Meek in front of goal, however Meek wasn’t able to guide his header to the target.

Meek continued to apply pressure with another chance in the 41st minute, however Tristan Vidackovic managed a solid save to deny the visitors an opening goal.

Despite continued pressure from the visitors in the minutes before, it was the Wanderers who broke ahead, scoring the first goal of the match in the 43rd minute.

The youngsters stripped Manly of the ball and made a fast-paced counter attack, with Awal Lual playing the ball through to Cop who sent a brilliant strike into the netting.

Manly’s Harry Van Der Saag tried his luck from range in the 53rd minute but couldn’t meet the target.

The Wanderers came agonisingly close to doubling their lead in the 60th minute as Simmons sent a ball across the goalmouth to Lual in front of the goal.

Lual couldn’t get a clean touch, with Saxon Hillyer trying to let off a shot, but Manly’s defence sprung into action to stop the hosts from a second.

The hosts pressed in the 64th minute as Simmons found himself in front of the goal with the ball, but Manly’s defence was able to neutralise the danger.

Wanderers substitutes Dallo Sandy and Noah Peacock combined in the 71st minute but Peacock wasn’t able to get his header to meet the target.

The hosts managed to double their lead in the 84th minute after continued perseverance.

Simmons pounced on the ball, moving forward inside the area before sending a clinical shot into the netting to take his side to two in the final stages of the match.

Peacock tried his luck at a third for the hosts in the 90th minute, but Kaye was quick to collect.

The visitors managed a final save in the fourth minute of injury time as Luka Knezevic let off a shot and Bilal Belkadi attempted to clear but sent it towards the target, however Kaye was able to pounce on the ball before it crossed the line.

Match Stats

Western Sydney Wanderers FC 2 (Cop 43’, Simmons 84’)

Manly United FC 0

Saturday 12 April, 2025

Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill

Referee: Stephen Lucas

Assistant Referees: Isaac Riggs & Alessandro Llana

Fourth Official: James Makris

Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 1. Tristan Vidackovic, 2. Nathan Barrie (26. Antony Barbic 90’), 4. Ricky Fransen, 5. Lachlan Tilt, 9. Alaat Abdul-Rahman ( 7. Dallo Sandy 65’), 18. Awan Lual (38. Noah Peacock 65’), 27. Julian Cop (8. Nicholas Badolato 86’), 29. Edmun Haddad (10. Luka Knezevic 46’), 31. Aidan Simmons, 32. Saxon Hillyer, 34. Meliwethu Nkomo

Substitutes Not Used: 20. Lucas Sinnott

Yellow Cards: Barrie 23’, Haddad 46’, Knezevic 55’

Red Cards: Nil

Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Aaron O Driscoll, 3. Matthew O’Donoghue (16. Ryan Devine 60’), 6. Bilal Belkadi, 10. Harry McCarthy (7. Peter Kekeris 60’), 11. Lucas Meek (9. Benjamin Koop 60’), 12. Rocco Pelle, 13. Taiga Kawano (17. Farah Koko 60’), 19. Alen Aganovic, 23. Darcy Burgess (14. Maxwell Pengelly 75’), 26. Harry Van der Saag

Substitutes Not Used: 21. Anthony Carreras

Yellow Cards: Koko 79’, Pelle 88’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Aidan Simmons (WSW)

2 – Julian Cop (WSW)

1 – Awan Lual (WSW)