SD Raiders Finish Strong To Sweep Aside Wanderers
SD Raiders FC strengthened their push for finals football with a commanding 3-0 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers FC at Ernie Smith Reserve on Saturday night.
The hosts controlled much of the contest and finished strongly, with Jakov Malbasa scoring twice late in the match to seal a comprehensive victory ahead of their important midweek Australia Cup clash.
Luka Knezevic, returning to the starting lineup, created the first opportunity of the contest, forcing Wanderers goalkeeper Samuel Goldberg into an early save.
SD Raiders continued to apply pressure in the opening stages, winning a number of corners as they looked to break through, but the Wanderers defence remained resolute.
Noah Chianese then tested Goldberg with an effort towards goal, but the goalkeeper claimed comfortably.
The visitors gradually found their rhythm, with a flick-on from a long throw falling to Alaat Abdul-Rahman in the 21st minute. The Wanderers attacker connected with a volley, but it went straight at SD Raiders goalkeeper Michael Figueira.
SD Raiders were moving the ball well across the surface, with Chianese, Mihael Marcic and Lachlan Everett combining to create another opportunity before Everett fired towards goal.
The pressure eventually told in the 35th minute.
SD Raiders worked the ball around the penalty area before Everett laid it off for Chianese, who produced a superb finish into the back of the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
The Raiders started the second half as strongly as they finished the first, with Robert Eremugo being played through before seeing his effort saved by Goldberg.
Wanderers continued searching for an equaliser, with the ball eventually recycled to Johnny Pavlovic, who curled an effort narrowly wide in the 50th minute.
The contest remained open as both teams fought for valuable points in the finals race.
Marcic headed narrowly wide for the Raiders before Abdul-Rahman forced Figueira into a sharp save at the other end.
The Wanderers then created a golden opportunity to level the scores, with a cut-back finding substitute Marko Radovancevic, who could only lift his effort over the crossbar.
Wanderers’ task became significantly harder in the 74th minute when they were reduced to 10 players.
Abdul-Rahman was shown two yellow cards in quick succession and was sent off, leaving the visitors with a numerical disadvantage for the closing stages.
SD Raiders immediately looked to capitalise.
Knezevic came close to adding a second after a quick counter-attack, turning well around the edge of the area before firing narrowly wide.
The hosts continued to push forward, with substitute Martin Fernandez weaving through the Wanderers defence before producing a tame finish.
The second goal finally arrived in the 86th minute.
Lachlan McGrath reacted quickest to a loose header before squaring the ball across goal for substitute Malbasa, who calmly tapped home to make it 2-0.
Malbasa then completed his brace in stoppage time.
Substitute Charlie Ragg delivered a perfectly weighted ball into the path of Malbasa, who made no mistake with his finish in the 91st minute to complete a 3-0 victory.
The result gives SD Raiders three valuable points as they continue their finals push, with the side now turning their attention to a huge Australia Cup clash in midweek.
Following the match, SD Raiders coach Goran Ljuboja praised his team’s performance and ability to break through after a difficult opening period.
“It was a solid win. We knew it would be tough against a side full of energy,” Ljuboja said.
“It was a tough 30 minutes and once we scored it got easier. We only talked about putting a good shift in at home to finish off the home season, and now we move on to Tuesday for the next round of the Hahn Australia Cup against Macarthur FC.”
Match Stats
SD Raiders FC 3 (Chianese ’35 Malbasa ’86 ‘90+1)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 0
Saturday 8 August 2026
Ernie Smith Reserve
Referee: Rory McFarlane
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harris & Hayden Kaye
Fourth Official: Brayden McDonald
SD Raiders FC: 1. Michael Figueira, 4. Cooper Hanagan, 5. Jett Mccue-Shore, 6. Lachlan Everett (21. Sebastian Malfara ’66), 7. Mihael Marcic (17. Martin Fernandez ’66), 8. James Letta, 10. Luka Knezevic, 12. Lachlan McGrath, 14. Noah Chianese (9. Jakov Malbasa ’66), 15. Matthew Lee (18. Charlie Ragg ’78), 37. Robert Eremugo (19. Riley Cox-Barlow ’78)
Unused subs: 31. Oliver Przydacz, 47. Ethan Beaven
Yellow cards: Malfara ’66 Mccue-Shore ‘84
Red cards: nil
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 4. Ricky Fransen, 5. Jesse Cameron, 6. Oscar Morrison, 7. Alaat Abdul-Rahman, 10. Johnny Pavlovic (23. Oscar Moore ’78), 12. Samuel Goldberg, 19. Ewan Gasowski (8. Corey Da Cruz ’63), 28. Georgio Hassarati, 29. Joshua Cetinic, 30. Anderson Back (25. Marko Radovancevic ’63), 31. Emile Katrib
Unused subs: 16. Tristan Arrarte, 26, Bradley Marszal, 40. Ashton Crawford, 75. Marcus Savic
Yellow cards: Katrib ’43 Fransen ’64 Abdul-Rahman ’73 Da Crus ‘90+3
Red cards: Abdul-Rahman ‘74
By Justin Davies
