KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from Western United’s 1-0 win over Wellington Phoenix on Saturday night.
MATCH REPORT: WESTERN UNITED 1-0 WELLINGTON PHOENIX
REACTION
‘We’re in for a treat’: Western, ‘Nix set the scene for epic finals series
It was a game decided by a solitary goal – but the drama, the end-to-end action, the victor’s resilience and the relentless pursuit of parity by the defeat which made Saturday night’s elimination final between Western and the ‘Nix an enthralling occasion.
Archie Thompson watched on pitch-side for Network 10, excited for what’s to come in the Isuzu UTE A-League finals series after what he witnessed at AAMI Park.
“I tell you what. If this is a taste of what the finals are going to be like over the next couple of weeks, wow – we’re in for a treat,” Thompson said post-match.
“That second half was probably one of the most entertaining, intensity-fuelled matches that I’ve seen in a long time.
“You could see the desperation of Wellington, they really, really wanted it and they fought right to the end… I’ll tell you what, they can be really proud of their efforts.”
“… and they didn’t give up,” added Network 10 football analyst Georgia Yeoman-Dale.
“That second half showed (Wellington) had that belief, and they did create chances.
“If it wasn’t for Jamie Young in goal, it would have been a different story.”
‘That’s something out of The Matrix’: The reaction to Young’s ‘world-class’ save
Western United goalkeeper Jamie Young kept his 11th clean sheet of the season on Saturday night – saving arguably his best save of the campaign to date for when it mattered most.
That moment arrived as Phoenix youngster James McGarry directed a header from a cross off the right flank toward the far corner of goal; Wellington players across the park had the wheels of celebration in motion before Young stopped the shots momentum with an outstretched paw, wrenching the ball off the goal line and out.
Here’s what the pundits had to say about Young’s jaw-dropping save:
Yeoman-Dale: “I looked at that one and don’t know how he was physically able to do that.”
Thompson: “That’s something out of The Matrix… that is a world-class save.”
Andy Harper was awestruck by the Western custodian’s superb individual effort.
“He is the single biggest reason why Western United have got such a great defensive record,” Harper said. “Not the only reason, because they’ve got a very experienced, well organised defence in front of them.
“But when they’re breached, it really more often than not has to be something quite special to beat Jamie Young.
“He just pulls off these remarkable saves. It’s time after time, it’s season after season – and he’s going to have to work hard given the injuries that are starting to fall on the Western United squad to key players.
“He’s going to have to maintain his rage as players do start to drop off from this point.”
What’s next for Western?
A two-legged semifinal against Melbourne Victory awaits John Aloisi’s side, with leg one kicking off at AAMI Park on Tuesday, May 17 (7.05pm AEST).
Western are the home side for the first leg, with Victory hosting the reverse fixture on Saturday, May 21 at AAMI Park (5.15pm AEST).
RECAP: WESTERN UNITED 1-0 WELLINGTON PHOENIX
72′: SAVE! Young (1-0)
An unbelievable save by Jamie Young ensures Western stay in the lead.
Network 10 co-commentator Andy Harper exclaimed: “He’s a freak, Jamie Young – this is inside the post, and behind him. How the hell does he do that? It’s an incredible piece of goalkeeping!”
70′: SAVE! Sail (1-0)
Sail to the rescue again for the ‘Nix!
Pain’s shot from distance deflects off the leg of Surman, wrong-footing Sail as the ball diverts toward the bottom-left corner.
Sail gets across quickly, adjusting his body to concede a corner, instead of a second Western goal.
65′: CHANCE! Wenzel-Halls (1-0)
Dylan Wenzel-Halls from close range – and he’s missed! The Western forward’s initial attempt was blocked but the rebound fell kindly; the angle was tight but Wenzel-Halls failed to get the ball on target as a golden chance went begging.
61′: CHANCE! Piscopo (1-0)
Reno Piscopo fires a rocket toward goal, and hammers the crossbar!
The Wellington creator goes close to levelling the score with an absolute stunner.
52′: CHANCE! Pain (1-0)
Prijović slides Connor Pain into the box and the Western winger shoots – but central defender Finn Surman gets across, sliding into the path of Pain to block the danger.
46′: SECOND HALF (1-0)
To progress to the semifinals, Wellington must do the following:
- Win an A-League Men’s final in Australia for the first time in club history
- Come from behind to win for the first time this season
Ufuk Talay’s side trail Western 1-0 as the second half begins.
39′: SAVE! Sail (1-0)
Jerry Skotadis tests Sail with a curling shot from range, attempting to squeeze the ball into the bottom-right corner. Sail gets down quickly to prod the ball around the post.
37′: Phoenix challenged to break Western down (1-0)
The hosts are conceding the majority of possession to Wellington; with a one-goal lead intact, Western are challenging the visitors to break them down – and are so far handling the Phoenix threat.
26′: Hooper lively early for ‘Nix (1-0)
Gary Hooper has been a bright spark up forward for the ‘Nix in an end-to-end contest at AAMI Park.
10′: GOAL! Prijović (1-0)
The hosts take an early lead in the elimination final!
A ball off the left flank fell into the path of Aleksandar Prijović as Sam Sutton failed to clear the danger. The Serbian controlled the ball before firing it past Oli Sail into the roof of the net.
6′: SAVE! Young (0-0)
That was close from the visitors!
Reno Piscopo’s strike from range bounced once on its way to the bottom-left corner, but Western keeper Jamie Young got down quickly to tip the strike out for a corner.
5′: CHANCE! Kilkenny (0-0)
Neil Kilkenny takes the first shot on goal of the evening, volleying wide from the edge of the box.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
We’re underway at AAMI Park!
