Lual hat-trick guides Wanderers to dominant win over Olympic

Awan Lual’s hat-trick steered Western Sydney Wanderers to a commanding 4-0 victory over Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday evening, lifting the visitors into the top six while compounding Olympic’s struggles at the wrong end of the ladder.

The youthful Wanderers secured their fourth win of the campaign in style, while the Blues slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat, leaving them anchored to equal last position on the table.

The visitors broke through in the 19th minute after centre half Nathan Barrie delivered an excellent ball from deep to release Alaat Abdul-Rahman, with the winger driving into the box before squaring for Lual to finish with ease.

Lual struck again just three minutes later to double the advantage. Jai Rose’s over-the-top ball forced Olympic captain Ziggy Gordon into a hurried back header that fell short, allowing Lual to pounce and slot home into the bottom right corner.

The Wanderers continued to threaten, nearly adding a third in the 34th minute when Rocco MacNamara’s cross found Abdul-Rahman, though Josip Orlovic produced a strong save to deny him.

Olympic looked to respond in the 36th minute when Ben Giason picked out Marco Arambasic, whose low strike forced an excellent reaction save from Wanderers goalkeeper Tristan Vidackovic.

The hosts had another opportunity just before the break, with Samuel Bosnjak sending Bailey Callaghan through, but the forward was unable to hit the target.

Lual came close to completing his hat-trick in the 62nd minute, only to be denied by a goal-line clearance after his effort deflected off a defender.

Olympic’s best chance of the second half came in the 66th minute, but Yuto Fujita fired over the bar after a scramble from a set-piece delivery.

The Wanderers forward eventually sealed his hat-trick in the 77th minute, tapping home from close range after a low cross from Atiya Waraga.

Waraga was again influential in the 83rd minute, delivering a cross that Tristan Arrarte converted at the second attempt to round out the scoring.

Olympic had a late chance to grab a consolation from the penalty spot, but Fujita’s effort was well saved by Vidackovic.

Wanderers coach Panny Nikas highlighted the importance of his side’s fast start.

“We spoke about starting on the front foot and trying to put our style into play and also getting the first goal. That was important,” Nikas said.

“It’s something we haven’t achieved in the last couple of weeks. We’ve always either been drawing at half-time or down, and we know we finish games strong, so that was the biggest improvement from the side.”

Reflecting on his side’s rise into the top six, Nikas added:

“The results are just a by-product of the process that we’re following. The biggest thing I am happy about is that mentally, physically, technically and tactically, they are improving each week.”

Match Stats

Sydney Olympic 0

Western Sydney Wanderers 4 (Awan Lual 19’, 22’, 77’, Arrarte 83’)

Saturday 21 March

Belmore Sports Ground

Referee: Charbel Geha

Assistant Referees: Aaron Bloch and Benjamin Hutchison

Fourth Official: Joshua Kermond

Sydney Olympic: 1. Josip Orlovic, 3. Samuel Bosnjak, 4. Joshua Hong, 5. Ziggy Gordon, 9. Marco Arambasic (11. Giorgos Louca 46’), 14. Jacob Tresoglavic (18. Kim Jun-Yong 46’), 16. Bailey Callaghan, 21. Yuta Komura (33. Maxamillion Luburic 60’), 24. Ben Giason, 31. Yuto Fujita, 34. Marcus Fernandez (23. Brooklyn Mallia 77’)

Substitutes Not Used: 12. Peter Grozos, 30. Joshua Da Silva, 40. Anthony Carreras

Yellow Cards: Yuta Komura 59’

Red Cards: Nil

Western Sydney Wanderers: 1. Tristan Vidackovic, 4. Nathan Barrie, 6. Oscar Morrison, 7. Alaat Abdul-Rahman (16. Tristan Arrarte 77’), 8. Julian Cop, 9. Awan Lual, 10. Jai Rose (11. Atiya Waraga 60’), 13. Noah Ovens (30. Marcus Savic 77’), 20. Harper Ryles (27. Lachlan Sattout 77’), 21. Rocco MacNamara, 26. Bradley Marszal

Substitutes Not Used: 5. Jesse Cameron, 12. Lucas Sinnott, 17. Joshua Cetinic

Yellow Cards:

Red Cards:

Player Ratings:

3: Awan Lual (WSW)

2: Julian Cop (WSW)

1: Noah Ovens (WSW)

-By Dimitri Kallos