Six-goal spectacle ends all square between Wanderers and Manly United

Western Sydney Wanderers and Manly United played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Wanderers Football Park on Saturday afternoon.

Six goals, a stoppage-time equaliser and a dramatic final chance kept the crowd on the edge of their seats for the full 90 minutes, with the points ultimately shared after a chaotic and entertaining contest.

The hosts opened the scoring through Awan Lual, but Manly responded quickly through Jesse Piriz before taking the lead via Luke Nieuwenhof in the first half.

Samuel Griffiths extended Manly’s advantage early in the second half, but the Wanderers refused to go away, with Lachlan Sattout pulling one back before Lual struck again in stoppage time to complete his brace and secure a point for the hosts.

Both sides looked dangerous in possession during the opening exchanges, but it was the Wanderers’ pressure that produced the first breakthrough, with Lual scoring in the 16th minute.

Alaat Abdul-Rahman forced the error, intercepting a loose pass high in the Wanderers’ attacking half. Lual reacted quickly to pounce on the opportunity and tapped home from close range to give the hosts the lead.

The visitors responded almost immediately, earning a free kick just outside the 18-yard box in the 19th minute. Kakeru Ono delivered into the area, with Piriz rising to head home and level the score.

Manly continued to create chances and their pressure paid off again in the 36th minute, as Piriz sent a low cross into the box which Nieuwenhof calmly finished from close range to make it 2-1.

The visitors went close to a third before half-time, but a scramble in the box and a long-range attempt from Griffiths were both kept out.

Abdul-Rahman nearly produced a spectacular bicycle kick in the 50th minute, but Manly goalkeeper Mackenzie Syron reacted well to deny the effort.

Manly then made it 3-1 in the 52nd minute through Griffiths. After combining with Stephan De Robillard, Griffiths reacted quickest when Wanderers goalkeeper Lucas Sinnott saved the initial effort, finishing the rebound to extend the lead.

The hosts pushed forward in response but were denied by Syron, while Marko Radovancevic fired over the bar from a promising position.

Wanderers clawed one back in the 69th minute through Sattout. Neat combination play between Johnny Pavlovic and Lual opened the defence, with Lual slipping a pass into Sattout, who finished well from inside the area.

Sattout nearly added a second in the 72nd minute with a free kick that drifted just off target.

Lual completed his brace in the 92nd minute to bring the game level once again, finishing first time after a cut-back from substitute Pavlovic.

Manly pushed for a late winner, with Darcy Burgess firing over after a driving run, before Ono skewed a close-range effort wide in the 96th minute.

In the final action of the match, Manly were agonisingly close again when a corner struck the woodwork, ensuring the contest ended all square in dramatic fashion.

Match Stats

Western Sydney Wanderers FC 3 (Lual 16’, 92’, Sattout 69’)

Manly United FC 3 (Piriz 19’, Nieuwenhof 36’, Griffiths 52’)

Saturday 27 June, 2026

Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill

Referee: Casey Reibelt

Assistant Referees: Joel Crawford and Amber Morris

Fourth Official: Charlie Hollings

Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 4. Ricky Fransen, 5. Jesse Cameron, 6. Oscar Morrison, 7. Alaat Abdul-Rahman (19. Ewan Gasowski 90’), 8. Julian Cop, 9. Awan Lual, 12. Lucas Sinnott, 16. Tristan Arrarte (10. Johnny Pavlovic 46’), 25. Marko Radovancevic, 27. Lachlan Sattout (28. Georgio Hassarati 75’), 31. Emile Katrib

Substitutes Not Used: 23. Oscar Moore, 26. Bradley Marszal, 35. Lachlan Allen, 75. Marcus Savic

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Manly United FC: 4. Jesse Piriz, 5. Aaron O Driscoll, 6. Saxon Hillyer, 7. Stephan De Robillard, 8. Kakeru Ono, 10. Darcy Burgess, 17. Samuel Griffiths (9. Benjamin Koop 72’), 18. Luke Nieuwenhof, 19. Cai Evans (11. Ayumu Kimura 80’), 33. Jasper Chipman, 99. Mackenzie Syron

Substitutes Not Used: 3. Matthew O’Donoghue, 12. Mitchell Seaman, 15. Max Martinello, 20. George Russell, 24. Toby Bakewell

Yellow Cards: Nieuwenhof 71’, Ono 90’, O’Driscoll 93’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Awan Lual (WSW)

2 – Jesse Piriz (MU)

1 – Kakeru Ono (MU)

-By Madeline Riley