Young Wanderers heap misery on relegation threatened Olympic
Western Sydney Wanderers have ended a four-game winless streak after wrestling their way to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Sydney Olympic on Saturday afternoon at Wanderers Football Park.
The youngsters held strong to secure a pivotal three points that boosts their hopes of finals football, while adding another untimely loss for an Olympic side striving to avoid relegation.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 11th minute after Emile Katrib delivered a perfect cross from the right into Alaat Abdul-Rahman, with the winger sliding in to knock it into the net.
The Blues responded quickly with an equaliser coming in the 15th minute after they unleashed a rapid attack from a quick free kick that led to Panos Armenakas perfectly playing through Sebastian Kukucka, who then expertly struck the ball into the top right from a tight angle.
Abdul-Rahman had a golden chance to restore his side’s lead in the 35th minute when he received the ball in the middle of the box from Lachlan Sattout, though Olympic keeper Filip Kurto intervened with a brilliant reflex save to keep it level.
Olympic’s Kaan Nizam came inches away from putting his team ahead just before the break, with his 44th minute long shot stopped only by the crossbar.
The Wanderers eventually regained the advantage in the 65th minute via Lachlan Sattout, whose effort was able to power into the goal despite Kurto getting a hand to it.
Awan Lual had a chance to bag the hosts’ third in the 69th minute when he received the ball in the box and struck it on the turn, though he dragged his effort wide of the left post.
The youngsters kept pushing for the third goal with Georgio Hassarati trying to get on the scoresheet in the 75th minute, but Kurto was able to knock it out.
Olympic pushed for the equaliser with Peter Grozos unleashing a strong curling shot in the 77th minute towards the top left, though Wanderers shot stopper Lucas Sinnott committed himself well to tip it away.
The Blues came incredibly close to drawing level in the 90+1st minute with two chances from Bailey Callaghan and Adam Bugarija respectively, but Sinnott stepped up with two crucial saves to preserve his team’s lead.
Wanderers coach Luca Andreacchio praised his side’s start in the game but stressed it was the closing half hour where they earned the victory.
“I thought we started the game and executed our game plan really well, but what bought us the result was the desire in the last 20-30 minutes,” Andreacchio told Football NSW.
He acknowledged the importance of getting the three points in making people happy, especially off the back of their four-game winless run, though emphasised.
“What’s important is that our process is good and we continue to develop the talent we’ve got in this group, and we continue to work for each other. If our process is good, the results will come.”
When asked on the lessons they should take from the result heading into their remaining games, Andreacchio said.
“That sometimes a bit of toughness and desire gets you results, and sometimes the tactics and the technical stuff can go out the window.”
Match Stats
Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Alaat Abdul-Rahman 11’. Lachlan Sattout 65’)
Sydney Olympic 1 (Sebastian Kukucka 15’)
Saturday 4 July
Wanderers Football Park
Referee: Alexandar Zastavnikovic
Assistant Referees: Isaac Riggs and Liam Smith
Fourth Official: Wael Arabi
Western Sydney Wanderers: 4. Ricky Fransen, 5. Jesse Cameron, 6. Oscar Morrison, 7. Alat Abdul-Rahman, 9. Awan Lual, 12. Lucas Sinnott, 16. Tristan Arrarte (28. Georgio Hassarati 55’), 25. Marko Radovancevic, 27. Lachlan Sattout, 30. Anderson Back (23. Oscar Moore 61’), 31. Emile Katrib (26. Bradley Marszal 55’)
Substitutes Not Used: 8. Corey Da Cruz, 18. Thomas Cutuk, 19. Ewan Gasowski, 80. Samuel Goldberg
Yellow Cards: Oscar Moore 87’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney Olympic: 4. Joshua Hong, 5. Ziggy Gordon, 6. Jok Akuien, 7. Seth Clark, 8. Kaan Nizam, 10. Panos Armenakas, 12. Zac Zoricich (19. Anton Isaako 64’), 16. Bailey Callaghan, 20. Filip Kurto, 21. Adam Bugarija, 23. Sebastian Kukucka (35. Peter Grozos 73’)
Substitutes Not Used: 14. Jacob Tresoglavic, 24. Faraz Rahimi, 34. Marcus Fernandez, 40. Anthony Carreras, 58. Daniel Wong
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3: Lachlan Sattout (WSW)
2: Lucas Sinnott (WSW)
1: Sebastian Kukucka (SO)
-By Dimitri Kallos
