The Western Sydney Wanderers concluded its preparation for the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season with another strong performance as they accounted for Bankstown City Lions 2-0.
The Western Sydney Wanderers concluded its preparation for the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season with another strong performance as they accounted for Bankstown City Lions 2-0.
Goals from Aaron Mooy and Tomi Juric capped off a great team performance which saw the Wanderers control the tempo and territory for the entire 90 minutes.
The opening exchanges were devoid of any chances of note but that was soon to change as the Wanderers hammered the Lions- goal from the tenth minute onwards.
With a rampant Tahj Minniecon playing provider on the right Brendon Santalab had the majority of chances yet his typically powerful strikes continued to be blocked, saved or marginally wide.
Not to be disheartened, Santalab provided the best moment of the half when he collected the ball from the top of his own penalty box and, showing an impressive burst of speed, dribbled the ball all the way to the top of the opposition-s box.
Unfortunately his efforts went unrewarded as Minniecon-s resultant shot zipped narrowly over the crossbar.
Just as it seemed the Wanderers dominant team performance was not to be rewarded Mooy opened the scoring with a long range thunderbolt.
Faking a shot on his left the attacking midfielder cut inside before calmly finishing from 20 yards.
Wholesale changes at half time saw all 11 players substitutes seeing Socceroo Matthew Spiranovic making his Wanderers debut.
The Red and Blacks started the second half how they played the first; dominating from the whistle with Tomi Juric in particular making inroads.
Despite this, it was actually the Lions who had the next chance when Jerrad Tyson was forced into a spectacular reaction save to deny an almost certain goal.
Chance after chance followed for the Wanderers showing that team is going to be a force during the season.
With three minutes remaining Juric capped off his solid display when he slid home a Dean Heffernan cross.
Bankstown City Lions 0
NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Aaron Mooy 41- Tomi Juric 47-)
Jensen Park
3 October 2013
First Half XI: 1. Ante Covic (GK), 3. Adam D-Apuzzo, 4. Nikolai Topor-Stanley. 5. Michael Beauchamp (C), 6. Jerome Polenz, 7. Labinot Haliti, 8. Mateo Poljak, 10. Aaron Mooy, 11. Brendon Santalab, 12. Tahj Minniecon, 23. Jason Trifiro
Second Half XI: 2. Shannon Cole, 9. Tomi Juric, 15. Martin Lo (14. Alusine Fofanah 78-), 16. Matthew Spiranovic, 17. Youssouf Hersi, 18. Iacopo La Rocca, 19. Mark Bridge, 20. Jerrad Tyson (GK), 21. Shinji Ono, 22. Dean Heffernan, 24. Aryn Williams
Unused Substitutes: 13. Jake McGing
