As far as debuts go, Lachlan Brook’s first outing in red and black was just about as good as they come.
The Western Sydney Wanderers recruit bagged five goals in a scintillating individual performance to sink NPL WA club Floreat Athena in the Round of 32 of the Australia Cup on Wednesday night; Brandon Borrello was the other goalscorer for Western Sydney in a 6-1 win at Kingsway Reserve.
Brook became the first player in the history of the Australia Cup final rounds to score five goals in a single game as the Olyroos forward announced himself to the Wanderers faithful in style.
Social media responded as Brook made history at Kingsway Reserve, with plenty of excitement from fans and neutrals alike for the season ahead, with the 22-year-old back in Australia after a stint abroad at English club Brentford FC.
Western Sydney’s win over Floreat capped off an action packed night in the Round of 32, with APIA Leichhardt, Western United and Gold Coast Knights all joining Marko Rudan’s side in progressing to the Round of 16.
Western United cruised past Edgeworth Eagles with a 4-0 win at Jack McLaughlan Oval; Lachlan Wales scored a brace to go with goals to Noah Botic and Michael Ruhs as John Aloisi’s side kicked off their 2023-24 campaign in style.
APIA Leichhardt won 4-1 over Goulburn Valley Suns, ending a fairytale run from the NPL Victoria 3 club from Shepparton, while Gold Coast Knights edged past Devonport City Strikers with a slender 1-0 win.
APIA Leichhardt, Western United, Gold Coast and Western Sydney join Mt Druitt Town Rangers, Sydney United 58, Wellington Phoenix and MetroStars as the first eight teams confirmed in the Round of 16.
WEDNESDAY FIXTURES
Goulburn Valley Suns FC 1-4 APIA Leichhardt FC
Venue: John McEwan Oval
Edgeworth Eagles FC 0-4 Western United FC
Venue: Jack McLaughlan Oval
Gold Coast Knights FC 1-0 Devonport City Strikers FC
Venue: Croatian Sports Centre
Floreat Athena FC 1-6 Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Venue: Kingsway Reserve
