No side had ever won more than six games by a scoreline of one goal to nil in a single season heading into the 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign
In just 13 games this season, Western United have notched seven.
Steven Lustica continued his purple patch as Western United survived a first-half barrage to produce their latest 1-0 win, this time over Sydney FC on Wednesday evening.
REACTION: Consistent United’s all-time ALM record an ominous sign of defensive strength
Sydney dominated the opening 45 minutes of Wednesday’s A-League Men match at AAMI Park, notching 13 shots to four and amassing 11 corners to one.
But it all counted for nothing, with Lustica scoring the winner in the 67th minute to lift United back to the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder.
The result left Sydney seven points adrift of second-placed Melbourne City, with Saturday’s clash between the teams set to be crucial.
The Sky Blues had plenty of possession and the majority of shots – but United edged the visitors in shots on target as Steve Corica’s side wasted their opportunities in the final third.
“You can’t always play well, and the first half we weren’t playing well,” Aloisi said.
“In the second half I thought we were really good, and we got our just rewards when we scored the goal.
“I’m so proud of the boys. I don’t care, 1-0 or 3-2, it’s important to get the wins.”
With seven 1-0 wins under their belt, United have eclipsed the record of six notched by Central Coast Mariners in the 2010/11 season, with the all-time leaderboard in said category reading as so:
| Team and ALM Season (regular) | 1-0 wins |
| Western United (2021/22) | 7 |
| Central Coast Mariners (2010/11) | 6 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers (2012/13) | 6 |
| Adelaide United (2005/06) | 5 |
| Brisbane Roar (2019/20) | 5 |
| Central Coast Mariners (2012/13) | 5 |
| Sydney FC (2009/10) | 5 |
It’s a unique statistic brought about by a key aspect of Western United’s play, according to Paramount+ analyst Alex Brosque.
“I think that (midfield) partnership between (Steve Lustica) and Neil Kilkenny is key to what they’re doing,” Brosque said post-match.
“If you look at the game and the way it played out, they didn’t let anything go through the middle.
“They forced everything wide, they stay close to their defenders which means there’s no real space to get your opposing number 10’s on the ball and create chances. Everything has to go wide, and then you’re looking at getting crosses in.”
Those crosses, when they do come into the box, are met by the likes of Tomoki Imai, Nikolai Topor-Stanley and the towering Leo Lacroix, who in front of goalkeeper Jamie Young have performed valiantly through their side’s record six-game winning streak in Isuzu UTE A-League home games.
But Brosque was disappointed to see United coast to the final whistle on Wednesday afternoon without the presence of Bobô in and around the Sky Blues penalty area to test them.
Bobô was removed from the action on the hour mark; without the Brazilian on the park the game played into United’s hands, with balls forced out wide for balls to be swung into the box at a frontline led by Adam Le Fondre and Trent Buhagiar.
Corica brought Alex Wilkinson on late to swing James Donachie forward to provide a presence in the box at the death.
“Toward the back end of the game, unless Bobô was injured or not 90 minute match fit, that’s a curious decision for me,” Brosque said.
“Then in game when you’re down 1-0, and we know Western United like to block up and defend and get numbers around the box, you need Bobo in the box and they didn’t have any aerial threat.
“That was a curious one for me.”
Lustica the match winner
Lustica, who signed a one-year contract extension with Western last week, failed to score in his first six matches this season.
But the veteran midfielder has now scored four in his last seven games, with his clinical finish against Sydney proving to be the key moment of Wednesday’s encounter.
Aleksandar Prijovic trapped a pass in the box before expertly rolling the ball back for Lustica to run onto.
Lustica dribbled past an opponent with a quick movement before calmly planting his left foot strike into the top corner.
The Sky Blues were left to lament their inability to score in the first half, when they enjoyed 63 per cent possession.
Anthony Caceres’ close-range shot was well saved by goalkeeper Jamie Young, Elvis Kamsoba had a shot blocked by a defender, while Bobo’s excellent chest down in the box was wasted when he followed it up with a weak strike.
Sydney created a host of other chances and goalmouth scraps that eventuated to zero, but they were at least limiting opportunities for Western at the other end.
The home side’s first real chance didn’t come until the 39th minute, when Adisu Bayew was unleashed in the box, only for his sliding shot to be saved by Andrew Redmayne.
Sydney defender Ben Warland almost scored an own goal in the 56th minute with a clearance gone wrong, but luckily for him the ball bounced off the crossbar.
The Sky Blues will be sweating on the fitness of Caceres, who limped off in the 59th minute with what appeared to be a knee injury after a clash of bodies.
LIVE FEED
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
FULL-TIME: WESTERN UNITED 1-0 SYDNEY FC
That’s six straight home wins for Western United, who return to the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table with their seventh 1-0 win of the season.
Seven of eight United wins this season have come via a 1-0 scoreline.
Watch highlights below.
GOAL! Finally an opener as touch of class puts United ahead (6.50pm AEDT)
A sharp move from United has opened the scoring with Steven Lustica putting the finish on the board.
Neil Kilkenny found the feet of Aleksandar Prijović inside the penalty area, and with his back to goal the striker flicked the ball into space for Lustica to run onto.
The midfielder faked to shoot then skipped past Grant before placing the ball into the top-left corner from close range to put United 1-0 ahead.
Warland off his own bar as United threaten (6.40pm AEDT)
Sky Blues defender Ben Warland was all at sea attempting to clear a United cross into the box off the left flank, meeting the ball with his left foot to send it looping toward his own goal instead.
The ball floated over Redmayne’s head, dropping onto the crossbar and out for a corner.
SECOND HALF: Brosque looks to Sydney’s bench to make the difference (6.30pm AEDT)
Paramount+ analyst and former Sydney FC forward Alex Brosque likes what he sees on the Sky Blues bench.
During the half-time show, Brosque pondered whether the firepower at Steve Corica’s disposal could prove the difference after a goalless first half:
HALF-TIME: WESTERN UNITED 0-0 SYDNEY FC
It’s goalless at the break at AAMI Park. Sydney FC had the better of the chances, ensuring United’s defence kept busy through the first 45.
Bayew’s big chance late in the half was the home side’s best, but Redmayne was up to the task of keeping it out.
CHANCE! Bayew with the best United chance of the half (6.04pm AEDT)
A line-breaking pass from defence by Leo Lacroix sent Western on their first genuine attacking foray in the 38th minute of play.
The play fed through Lachie Wales and ended at the feet of Adisu Bayew on the left side of the 18-yard box. Bayew cut onto his right and drove a low shot on goal, calling Andrew Redmayne into his first genuine action of the day to keep the ball out.
Sky Blues start the brightest (5.50pm AEDT)
Sydney FC are creating all the attacking play through the first half hour of play, with eight shots to United’s one and four shots on target as opposed to the home side’s zero.
KICK-OFF: UNDERWAY AT AAMI PARK (5.25PM AEDT)
It’s a top-four clash at AAMI Park as Rhyan Grant captains the Sky Blues into battle.
The away side gets the ball rolling in their first of two fixtures in four games at the Melbourne venue as United try to go back above Melbourne City to the top of the table.
