Wanderers Finish 2026 On A High With Victory Over Blacktown City

Western Sydney Wanderers FC have finished their 2026 NPL Men’s NSW season on a high, taking home a decisive 3-1 victory over Blacktown City FC at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Wanderers looked the stronger team for much of the first half, controlling the majority of possession during the opening 10 minutes and creating the better of the early opportunities.

Awan Lual led the charge for the visitors, with his first chance coming from a counter-attack.

The forward carried the ball down the field himself but, without support around him, could not find a way through on goal.

Lual went close again minutes later after a decent cross into the box, but the angle proved too difficult after Blacktown City goalkeeper Cayden Henderson got a deflection on the ball.

Blacktown City created their first good chance of the half just before the 20-minute mark.

Alou Kuol produced a quality cross for the fast-running Jak O’Brien, whose pass towards Travis Major was intercepted by a Wanderers defender.

The pressure from the visitors eventually told in the 40th minute, with Lual unsurprisingly providing the breakthrough.

The Wanderers forward slipped past both Nathan Grimaldi and Henderson before calmly sliding the ball into the corner to give his side a 1-0 lead.

Lual almost produced a carbon copy moments later, again slipping past Henderson, but this time Grimaldi had read the danger and was able to clear the ball away, although it appeared to be heading towards the corner post regardless.

There was an injury scare for Kodai Tanaka just before half-time, with the Blacktown midfielder caught between Johnny Pavlovic and Georgio Hassarati as all three challenged for the ball.

Blacktown appeared to have received a strong message at half-time, coming out for the second half hungry to find an equaliser.

Tanaka was brought down again early after the restart, this time by Joshua Cetinic, who received a yellow card for the challenge.

Despite Blacktown looking increasingly likely to find a way back into the contest, it was the Wanderers who doubled their advantage in the 57th minute.

Lual produced an excellent cross for Georgio Hassarati, who calmly slipped his finish past Henderson to make it 2-0.

Henderson continued to have a decent showing despite the scoreline, producing several quality saves, particularly as Lual continued to hunt for another goal.

The contest became increasingly physical, with both Jacob Maniti and Lual receiving yellow cards in the 69th minute.

Maniti was cautioned for a challenge, while Lual was booked following an exchange with a Blacktown player.

Blacktown eventually found their breakthrough in stoppage time through Kuol.

The forward applied great pressure to the Wanderers defence, winning an interception before finding a way through and giving the hosts hope of a late comeback.

However, the goal would not be the final moment of the match.

With Blacktown City goalkeeper Henderson pushed forward for a corner in an attempt to find an equaliser, the Wanderers won possession and launched a counter-attack.

Henderson was caught outside his penalty area, allowing substitute Tristan Arrarte to spot the opportunity.

From beyond halfway, Arrarte produced an audacious lob that sailed over the stranded goalkeeper and into the back of the net to make it 3-1.

The final whistle confirmed a winning end to the Wanderers’ 2026 campaign, with Lual, Hassarati and Arrarte all finding the back of the net.

For Blacktown City, it was a disappointing way to end their season, while the Wanderers can now look back on their campaign before turning their attention towards 2027.

Match Stats

Blacktown City FC 1 (Alou Kuol 90+3’)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 3 (Awan Lual 40’, Georgio Hassarati 57’, Tristan Arrarte 90+5’)

Sunday 30 August 2026
Valentine Sports Park

Referee: Danny Horstead
Assistant Referees: Brayden McDonald and Matthew Harris
Fourth Official: Michael Weiner

Blacktown City FC: 1. Cayden Henderson (GK), 4. Nicholas O’Brien, 7. Travis Major (c), 8. Jak O’Brien (16. Riley Nolan 71’), 10. Maksim Jez, 11. Kodai Tanaka (12. Daniel McHugh 80’), 15. Caleb Jackson-Brown (18. Jake Briggs 80’), 19. Sebastian Hayward (3. Lachlan Tilt 63’), 22. Jacob Maniti, 27. Nathan Grimaldi (21. Aiden Renshaw 80’), 45. Alou Kuol

Substitutes Not Used: 20. Cooper Rogers (GK)
Yellow Cards: Jacob Maniti 69’
Red Cards: None

Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 1. Tristan Vidackovic, 5. Jesse Cameron, 6. Oscar Morrison (c), 8. Corey Da Cruz (25. Marko Radovancevic 59’), 9. Awan Lual, 10. Johnny Pavlovic (16. Tristan Arrarte 59’), 17. Joshua Cetinic, 21. Rocco Macnamara (2. Marcus Savic 87’), 26. Bradley Marszal, 28. Georgio Hassarati (31. Nathaniel Arrarte 87’), 30. Anderson Back (11. Ewan Gasowski 59’)

Substitutes Not Used: 12. Samuel Goldberg (GK), 23. Oscar Moore
Yellow Cards: Joshua Cetinic 56’, Awan Lual 69’
Red Cards: None

-By Katrina May